The servlet container provides the initialization parameters for a servlet or filter within the configuration object the container passes to the init method. The configuration object provides agetInitParameter() function that takes a std::string name and returns the contents of the initialization parameter by that name. A filter uses the configuration object to access initialization parameters. A servlet uses the convenience functions provided by rwsf::GenericServlet to access initialization parameters directly.

The code sample below shows a servlet retrieving the initialization parameters from the servlet element shown in “Configuration File Example.”

If the instance definition does not contain an initialization parameter with the name provided, the getInitParameter() function returns an empty string.