URL mapping and infinite loop problem

[Tushar Kale]

Hello: I have  following servlet mapping defined in the web.xml file:   <servlet-mapping> <servlet-name>secureAction</servlet-name> <url-pattern>/secure/*</url-pattern> </servlet-mapping>   The objective is to activate the secureAction servlet when any file in secure directory is accessed. The secureAction servlet performs common processing and then supposed to forward the request the resource.   The problem is, when secureAction servlet uses forward( ) or sendRedirect( ) method to the desired resource, the message activates the secureAction servlet again since the forwarded message has /secure in its URL thus causing an infinite loop.   Shouldn't the forward call bypass the servlet mapping policy?   ~ Tushar Kale