Struts2: Get the Url the User came from

Question

How can i get the URL from which the user came to my Struts2 Action?

Answer 1

You can use the HTTP referrer:

String url = request.getHeader("referer");

However you need to be cautious as this is an optional value passed by the browser. In other words, not all clients will pass it to you.

A safer option is to pass the calling page as a hidden input value.

Answer 2

Try:

request.getHeader("referer");  

You can also create a hidden field in the form and then use a if statement to check and route accordingly.

I'd recommend you use the hidden field. While it is certainly more of a hassle it is also more reliable. The referer field can be stripped from the HTTP header by a proxy. In fact the browser isn't required to send the referer field in the header at all.

See a good discussion here. The above explanation is an extract from that discussion.