Question

I’m still puzzled on the usage of a RequestDispatcher.

If i have a javascript file which internally using a url to call a servlet as shown below:

var url = "../../../../FeesServlet?selectedCode="+selectedCode+"&searchNameOrCode="+searchNameOrCode

req.open("GET", url, true);
req.onreadystatechange = someFunction();
req.send(null);

Why do we need a RequestDispatcher when i can get the above job done without it? The above code still called a servlet (resource) where my business logic resides and still get a job done.

I just don’t see the need for a RequestDispatcher.

Answer 1

But how do you forward in the servlet to the new url/servlet? You need RequestDispatcher for that:

RequestDispatcher dispatcher = aRequest.getRequestDispatcher(aResponsePage.toString());
dispatcher.forward(aRequest, aResponse);

if you don’t need to forward you don’t need a dispatcher.