How does a request flow through Spring MVC and DispatcherServlet?

Traces a Servlet request through filters, DispatcherServlet, handler mapping, argument resolution, controller invocation, return handling, conversion, and exception resolution.

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A Servlet request first passes through the container filter chain and reaches Spring MVC's DispatcherServlet, which acts as a front controller. It asks handler mappings to select a handler, then a handler adapter resolves controller arguments and invokes the matched method. The return value is handled as a view, response body, or other supported type, and message converters serialize bodies. Exceptions are offered to configured exception resolvers before the response is completed.

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A usable request-pipeline model for debugging and placing cross-cutting behavior.

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DispatcherServlet coordinates Spring MVC delegates; it does not contain the application's endpoint logic.
A Servlet request first passes through the container filter chain and reaches Spring MVC's DispatcherServlet, which acts as a front controller. It asks handler mappings to select a handler, then a handler adapter resolves controller arguments and invokes the matched method. The return value is handled as a view, response body, or other supported type, and message converters serialize bodies. Exceptions are offered to configured exception resolvers before the response is completed.
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Argument resolution can perform type conversion, JSON reading, data binding, and validation before the controller method runs. For a REST response, the selected HttpMessageConverter writes the body according to the declared and negotiated media type. Interceptors surround handler execution inside MVC, while Servlet filters sit outside the . This distinction explains why a breakpoint in the controller is never reached for some 400, 404, 405, or 415 responses.

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Saying DispatcherServlet directly executes all endpoint logic.
Assuming every 400 originated inside a controller.
Treating filters and interceptors as identical hooks.

How does a request flow through Spring MVC and DispatcherServlet?

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