SRV.1.3 An Example

A client program, such as a web browser, accesses a web server and makes an HTTP request. This request is processed by the web server and is handed off to the servlet container. The servlet container determines which servlet to invoke based on its internal configuration and calls it with objects representing the request and response. The servlet container can run in the same process as the host web server, in a different process on the same host, or on a different host from the web server for which it processes requests .

The servlet uses the request object to find out who the remote user is, what HTML form parameters may have been sent as part of this request, and other relevant data. The servlet can then perform whatever logic it was programmed with and can generate data to send back to the client. It sends this data back to the client via the response object.

Once the servlet is done with the request, the servlet container ensures that the response is properly flushed and returns control back to the host web server.