A web application uses a deployment descriptor to initialize resources like servlets and taglibs. The deployment descriptor is formatted as a XML document and named web.xml.

Likewise, the framework uses a configuration file to initialize its own resources. These resources include:

• Interceptors that can preprocess and postprocess a request
• Action classes that can call business logic and data access code
• Results that can prepare views, like JavaServer Pages and FreeMarker templates

At runtime, there is a single configuration for an application. Prior to runtime, the configuration is defined through one or more XML documents, including the default struts.xml document. There are several elements that can be configured, including packages, namespaces, includes, actions, results, interceptors, and exceptions.

See struts.xml for a working example.

Administrative Elements

• Bean Configuration
• Constant Configuration
• Package Configuration
• Namespace Configuration
• Include Configuration

Request Handling Elements

• Interceptor Configuration
• Action Configuration
  • Wildcard Mappings
• Result Configuration
• Unknown Handlers

Error Handling

• Exception Configuration

Next: Configuration Files