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layout: default title: Accessing application, session, request objects parent: title: Core Developers Guide url: index.html

Accessing application, session, request objects

DEPRECATED???

The framework provides several access helpers to access Session, Application, Request scopes.

Accessing from Java

All the JEE scope attribute maps can be accessed via ActionContext.

Accessing servlet scopes

Map attr = (Map) ActionContext.getContext().get("attr");
attr.put("myId", myProp);  // Page scope.

Map application = (Map) ActionContext.getContext().get("application");
application.put("myId", myProp);

Map session = (Map) ActionContext.getContext().get("session");
session.put("myId", myProp);

Map request = (Map) ActionContext.getContext().get("request");
request.put("myId", myProp);

Do not use ActionContext.getContext() in the constructor of your Action class. The values may not be set up, and the call may return null for getSession().

We can also access the HttpServletRequest and HttpServletResponse objects themselves through ServletActionContext. In general this isn't recommended as it will tie our action to the servlet specification.

Setting session attribute through session object

ServletActionContext.getRequest().getSession().put("myId", myProp);

Implementing ServletRequestAware or ServletResponseAware, combined with the servletConfig interceptor, is an alternative way to access the request and response objects, with the same caveat.

Accessing from the view (JSP, FreeMarker, etc.)

Request and session attributes are accessed via OGNL using the #session and #request stack values. Page attributes are accessed via OGNL using the #attr stack value, and Application attributes via the #application stack value.

The #attr stack value will search the javax.servlet.jsp.PageContext for the specified key. If the PageContext doesn't exist, it will search the request, session, and application scopes, in that order.

Accessing attributes in the Application, Session, Request, or Page scope from a JSP

Retrieve the attribute (property), with key myId, from the specified scope:

<s:property value="#application.myId" />

<s:property value="#session.myId" />

<s:property value="#request.myId" />

<s:property value="#attr.myId" />

Reminder: attr is for Page scope attributes first, but will search the remaining scopes, in order, seeking a match.