Avoid browser caching on the server side

I want to update some static content (image files) within my ear without changing the code. I know I can just replace the files themselves, then deploy the static content up to production. However, I want the user to see these new images immediately. I'm afraid of them being cached. Is there any way I can guarantee that the user will see the new images? Will renaming them in the filename and jsp make them uncached?

Eric Juneau wrote: Will renaming them in the filename and jsp make them uncached?

Um, yes because it will be a different file.

Look at this thread: http://www.coderanch.com/t/122075/HTML-JavaScript/window-location-bypassing-cache#603509

Browsers cache by URL -- if the URL changes, a cached resource with a the original URL cannot be served.