RESTful Java Web Services - Third Edition

Understanding filters and interceptors in JAX-RS

The default request-response model offered in the JAX-RS implementation fits well for many common use cases. However, at times, you may look at extending the default request-response model. For instance, you may need such extension capabilities while adding support for the custom authentication, customized caching of responses, encoding request content, and so on, without polluting the application code. JAX-RS allows you to do this by adding your own interceptors and filters for both the REST requests and responses, as appropriate.

Typically, filters are used for processing the request-response headers, whereas interceptors are concerned with the marshaling and unmarshaling of the HTTP message ...