Exam Notes for the Sun Certified Web Component Developer (SCWCD) Exam

3. The Servlet Container Model

3.1. Servlet Context Init Parameters

3.1.1.1. purpose: defines init parameters accessible by all servlets in the web application context; set-able at deployment-time, but accessible at run-time
3.1.1.2. interfaces (or classes): javax.servlet.ServletContext
3.1.1.3. methods: public Enumeration getInitParameterNames() and public String getInitParameter(String name)
3.1.1.4. webapp deployment descriptor element name: <context-param> {param-name, param-value} </context-param>
3.1.1.5. behavior in a distributable: Consider that a different instance of the ServletContext may exist on each different JVM and/or machine. Therefore, the context should not be used to store application state. Any state should be stored externally, e.g. in a database or ejb.

3.2. Servlet Context Listener

3.2.1.1. purpose: An object that implements the ServletContextListener interface is notified when its web app context is created or destroyed
3.2.1.2. interfaces (or classes): javax.servlet.ServletContextListener
3.2.1.3. methods:
3.2.1.3.1. void contextInitialized(ServletContextEvent e): called during web server startup or when context is added or reloaded; requests will not be handled until this method returns
3.2.1.3.2. void contextDestroyed(ServletContextEvent e): called during web server shutdown or when context is removed or reloaded; request handling will be stopped before this method is called
3.2.1.4. webapp deployment descriptor element name: <listener> <listener-class> {fully qualified class name} </listener-class> <listener>
3.2.1.5. behavior in a distributable: Each context instance (on different jvm's and/or machines) will have its own instance of the listener object. Therefore, if a context on one jvm/machine is initialized or destroyed, it will not trigger a listener on any other jvm/machine.

3.3. Servlet Context Attribute Listener

3.3.1.1. purpose: An object that implements the ServletContextAttributeListener interface is notified when attributes are added to or removed from its web app context
3.3.1.2. interfaces (or classes): javax.servlet.ServletContextAttributeListener
3.3.1.3. methods: void attributeAdded/attributeRemoved/attributeReplaced(ServletContextAttributeEvent e)
3.3.1.4. webapp deployment descriptor element name: <listener> <listener-class> {fully qualified class name} </listener-class> <listener>
3.3.1.5. behavior in a distributable: Addition, removal or replacement of an attribute in a context will only affect the listener for that context, and not other context "instances" on other jvm's and/or machines.

3.4. HttpSession Attribute Listener

3.4.1.1. purpose: An object that implements the HttpSessionAttributeListener interface is notified when a session attribute is added, removed or replaced
3.4.1.2. interfaces (or classes): javax.servlet.http.HttpSessionAttributeListener
3.4.1.3. methods: void attributeAdded/attributeRemoved/attributeReplaced(HttpSessionBindingEvent e)
3.4.1.4. webapp deployment descriptor element name: <listener> <listener-class> {fully qualified class name} </listener-class> <listener>
3.4.1.5. behavior in a distributable: sessions may migrate from one jvm or machine to another; hence the session unbind event may occur on a different jvm/machine than the session bind event.

3.5. Http Session Listener

3.5.1.1. purpose: An object that implements the HttpSessionListener interface is notified when a session is created or destroyed in its web app context
3.5.1.2. interfaces (or classes): javax.servlet.http.HttpSessionListener
3.5.1.3. methods:
3.5.1.3.1. void sessionCreated(HttpSessionEvent e)
3.5.1.3.2. void sessionDestroyed(HttpSessionEvent e) - called when session is destroyed (invalidated)
3.5.1.4. webapp deployment descriptor element name: <listener> <listener-class> {fully qualified class name} </listener-class> <listener>
3.5.1.5. behavior in a distributable: sessions may migrate from one jvm or machine to another; hence the session destroy event may occur on a different jvm/machine than the session create event.

3.6. Http Session Activation Listener

3.6.1.1. purpose: Designed to handle sessions that migrate from one server to another. The listener is notified when any session is about to passivate (move) and when the session is about to activate (become alive) on the second host. It gives an app the chance to, for example, persist nonserializable data across jvm's.
3.6.1.2. mothods:
3.6.1.2.1. void sessionWillPassivate(HttpSessionEvent e) - session is about to move; it will already be out of service when this method is called
3.6.1.2.2. void sessionDidActivate(HttpSessionEvent e) - session has been activated on new server; session will not yet be in service when this method is called
3.6.1.3. webapp deployment descriptor element name:
<listener> <listener-class> {fully qualified class name} </listener-class> <listener>

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