The <jsp:forward> tag forwards the request object containing the client request information from one JSP page to another resource. The target resource can be an HTML file, another JSP page, or a servlet, as long as it is in the same application context as the forwarding JSP page. The lines in the source JSP page after the <jsp:forward> tag are not processed.
You can pass parameter names and values to the target resource by using a <jsp:param> clause. An example of this would be passing the parameter name username (with name="username") and the value nakamura (with value="nakamura") to a servlet as part of the request. If you use <jsp:param>, the target resource should be a dynamic resource that can handle the parameters.
Be careful when using <jsp:forward> with unbuffered output. If you have used the page directive with buffer="none" to specify that the output of your JSP page should not be buffered, and if the JSP page has any data in the out object, using <jsp:forward> will cause an IllegalStateException.
For more information, see the JavaServer Pages (JSP) v1.2 Syntax Reference on the Sun Microsystems® web site.
<jsp:forward page="{relativeURL | <%= expression %>}" />
Or:
<jsp:forward page="{relativeURL | <%= expression
%>}" >
<jsp:param name="parameterName"
value="{parameterValue | <%= expression %>}"
/> +
</jsp:forward>
page="{relativeURL | <%= expression %>}"
The relative URL that locates the resource to be included, or an expression that evaluates to a String equivalent to the relative URL. The relative URL looks like a pathname--it cannot contain a protocol name, port number, or domain name. The URL can be absolute or relative to the current JSP page. If it is absolute (beginning with a /), the pathname is resolved by your web or application server.
<jsp:param name="parameterName"
value="{parameterValue | <%= expression %>}" />+
Sends one or more name/value pairs as parameters to a dynamic resource. The target resource should be dynamic, that is, a JSP page, servlet, or other resource that can process the data that is sent to it as parameters. You can use more than one <jsp:param> clause if you need to send more than one parameter to the target resource. The name attribute specifies the parameter name and takes a case-sensitive literal string as a value. The value attribute specifies the parameter value and takes either a case-sensitive literal string or an expression that is evaluated at request time.
<jsp:forward page="/servlet/login" /> <jsp:forward page="/servlet/login"> <jsp:param name="username" value="nakamura" /> </jsp:forward>