Why is my Filter called for every image, included jsp and the main jsp?

I noticed that when i have a JSP page with jsp:include calls and images, the filter gets called for every include and image! Why is this? How do I stop this and make it called once for the entire page?

I read somewhere that you can put an attribute in the request object and then read it to see if it's your second time around. It doesn't work!! This covers jsp:includes BUT images are being treated as fully new requests!! What's going on?

[ October 27, 2006: Message edited by: Dan Bizman ]

You probably have a URL mapping for the filter that is too broad.

Originally posted by Dan Bizman:
BUT images are being treated as fully new requests!!

Yes, that's how HTML and HTTP work.

Originally posted by Bear Bibeault:
You probably have a URL mapping for the filter that is too broad.

So the only way to get it to not call the filter multiple times is to put the images, scripts outside the "folder hierarchy" of the pages?

And why can't I find a way to let the filter know it's been called before? I understand they're treated as separate requests by the browser, but is there any way to know that they're really sup-parts of a page?

No, HTTP is stateless protocol.

You need to map your filter appropriately.

The use of a front controller really helps in this regard as servlet requests to this controller can be mapped to the filter, and all other ancillary requests are not.

You can try to use the <dispatcher> under the <filter-mapping> element to further controler how your filter is activated. Note, this is applicable if you are using Servlet 2.4 or above.

Hope this helps.

Originally posted by Eddy Lee Sin Ti:
You can try to use the <dispatcher> under the <filter-mapping> element to further controler how your filter is activated. Note, this is applicable if you are using Servlet 2.4 or above.

Hope this helps.

That won't do it because images also are requests.

That won't do it because images also are requests

True. Url pattern mapping gotta be refactored then.

Yes,you need change your URL pattern mapping to from *.* to something like *.jsp.