How to Return the Same View Controller Using ModelAndView in Spring Web MVC?

How can I return the same view controller in Spring Web MVC using the ModelAndView instance?

ModelAndView modelAndView = new ModelAndView("viewName");

In Spring Web MVC, handling views efficiently is crucial for developing a seamless user experience. Utilizing the ModelAndView object enables developers to manage both the model data and the view to render. Returning the same view from a controller can be essential for scenarios where a user submits a form and an error occurs, requiring them to see the same form view populated with validation messages or error details.

@Controller
public class MyController {

    @PostMapping("/submitForm")
    public ModelAndView handleSubmit(@ModelAttribute MyForm form, BindingResult result) {
        ModelAndView modelAndView = new ModelAndView("formView");
        if (result.hasErrors()) {
            modelAndView.addObject("formErrors", result.getAllErrors());
            modelAndView.addObject("formData", form);
        } else {
            // Process the form data
            modelAndView.setViewName("successView");
        }
        return modelAndView;
    }
}

Causes

• Navigating back to the same view after an action.
• Submitting a form and needing to display the form with validation errors.

Solutions

• Create a ModelAndView instance specifying the view name you want to return.
• Add required model attributes to the ModelAndView before returning it.

Mistake: Forgetting to add model attributes when returning the same view.

Solution: Always add necessary model data to your ModelAndView instance before returning.

Mistake: Not specifying the correct view name in ModelAndView.

Solution: Ensure that the view name matches a configured view resolver for correct rendering.