Head First Servlets and JSP, 2nd Edition

The servlet init parameters are read only ONCE—when the Container initializes the servlet

When the Container makes a servlet, it reads the DD and creates the name/value pairs for the ServletConfig. The Container never reads the init parameters again! Once the parameters are in the ServletConfig, they won’t be read again until/unless you redeploy the servlet. Think about that.

1. Container reads the Deployment Descriptor for this servlet, including the servlet init parameters (<init-param>).

   

2. Container creates a new ServletConfig instance for this servlet.

   

3. Container creates a name/value pair of Strings for each servlet init parameter. Assume we have only one.

   

4. Container gives the ServletConfig references to the name/value init parameters.

   

5. Container creates a new instance of the servlet class.

   

6. Container calls the servlet’s init() method, passing in the reference to the ServletConfig.

   

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