init() method in a Servlet's lifecycle.

[ragi singh]

Hi all ,

During the lifecycle of a servlet init() method is called . Now there are two init() methods one that takes a ServletConfig as argument and the other which does not take any argument . Which of the two is the default that a constructor calls when a servlet is initialized . and when is the init() method with the ServletConfig argument called ?

[Mark Uppeteer]

the one with the ServletConfig is called by the container and has the properties in it from the web.xml.
You shouldn't touch that one.
The init(Servletconfig) will call the other init() where you get your shot to initialize.
Don't override init(Servletconfig) without calling super.init(ServletConfig).

[Mark Uppeteer]

I'm a bit confused with your...

Which of the two is the default that a constructor calls when a servlet is initialized

the init is called by the container, not by a constructor

[ragi singh]

I am sorry about that Mark its container and not constructor . Does that mean when my servlet is initialized by the container , after calling the servlet constructor the container calls the init(ServletConfig) and it is in this init(ServletConfig) that the init() method is called .

[Abimaran Kugathasan]

init(ServletConfig) is the template method, which stores ServletConfig, and then delegates to init(). This is what javax.servlet.GenericServlet.init(ServletConfig) looks like:

public void init(ServletConfig config)
        throws ServletException {
 this.config. = config;
 init();
}

And, if you really want to override init(ServletConfig), make sure you invoke super.init(ServletConfig);, usually as the first line, though it's not strictly required.

[Mark Uppeteer]

Does that mean when my servlet is initialized by the container , after calling the servlet constructor the container calls the init(ServletConfig) and it is in this init(ServletConfig) that the init() method is called .

yes ragi singh,
its like that (and thats the way it is )