Spring web application: executing common code before entering RequestMapping in controller

Question

I have a web application developed with Spring 2.5. The application has numerous controllers, containing GET and POST request methods, which are marked with RequestMapping annotations, like this:

@RequestMapping(method = RequestMethod.GET)

I would want to execute some code before each such request, without modifying the existing controllers. How can I accomplish this, if possible?

Answer 1

You want to use a HandlerInterceptor. These "crosscut" your controllers. See this Spring docs for more info.

Answer 2

I may be wrong here but weren't HttpFilters (that can intercept requests) designed for the same thing?