Use of web.xml file for deploying a servlet

[shivang sarawagi]

Can anyone tell me what is the use of a web.xml file, which is a deployment descriptor, while using a servlet ??

Is it mandatory to make a xml file for every servlet class ??

[Bear Bibeault]

No, a single web.xml describes the servlets for the entire web app.

Within it, you must declare each servlet and its mapping. (Unless using Servlets 3, where you can substitute annotations.)

[Miku Ranjan]

Hi,
Yes Bear is right, if you are not using annotation base servlet then you have to mention your servlet along with the mapping in the web.xml file
If you will use eclipse like any ide for creating your servlet that part done automatically by the IDE.

[Ankush Kaundal]

Web.xml is the place where the web server container will check for the mapping of the servlet name to its class and accordingly handles the task to that servlet and so the flow goes on.

[Karthikeyan Nadanasabapathy]

web.xml is the deployment descriptor, can also be called the heart of any web application where all servlets are mapped.