Bootstrap servlet to start up Spring's root WebApplicationContext. Simply delegates to ContextLoader.

This servlet should have a lower load-on-startup value in web.xml than any servlets that access the root web application context.

Note that this class has been deprecated for containers implementing Servlet API 2.4 or higher, in favor of ContextLoaderListener.
According to Servlet 2.4, listeners must be initialized before load-on-startup servlets. Many Servlet 2.3 containers already enforce this behavior. If you use such a container, this servlet can be replaced with ContextLoaderListener. Else or if working with a Servlet 2.2 container, stick with this servlet.

Servlet 2.3 containers known to work with bootstrap listeners are:

• Apache Tomcat 4.x+
• Jetty 4.x+
• Resin 2.1.8+
• Orion 2.0.2+
• BEA WebLogic 8.1 SP3

For working with any of them, ContextLoaderListener is recommended.

Servlet 2.3 containers known not to work with bootstrap listeners are:

• BEA WebLogic up to 8.1 SP2
• IBM WebSphere 5.x
• Oracle OC4J 9.0.3

If you happen to work with such a server, this servlet has to be used.

So unfortunately, the only context initialization option that is compatible with all Servlet 2.3 containers is this servlet.

Note that a startup failure of this servlet will not stop the rest of the web application from starting, in contrast to a listener failure. This can lead to peculiar side effects if other servlets get started that depend on initialization of the root web application context.