Understanding the Difference Between Forward and sendRedirect Methods in JSP

When it comes to JSP programming, the difference between the forward and sendRedirect methods lies in how the server handles the request and response redirection.

Forward Method:

The forward method in JSP forwards the request from one servlet to another resource within the same server. This means that the servlet or JSP that forwards the request can share the request attributes and response objects with the forwarded resource. It is an internal redirection that happens entirely on the server side without the client's involvement.

sendRedirect Method:

On the other hand, the sendRedirect method in JSP sends a temporary redirect response to the client's browser, instructing it to make a new request to a different URL. This method results in the client making a new request to the redirected URL, leading to a different server handling the request. As a result, any request attributes and objects do not get shared between the resources.

In summary, the forward method is an internal server-side redirection, whereas the sendRedirect method is a client-side redirection that involves a new request to a different URL.

Understanding the distinction between these two methods is crucial for properly managing request and response redirection in JSP applications.