How to Map a Spring MVC Controller to the Context Root (/) When Using mvc:resources

How can I map a Spring MVC controller to the context root (/) while also using mvc:resources for static resource handling?

<mvc:resources mapping="/static/**" location="/static/"/>

// Controller example
@Controller
public class MyController {
    @RequestMapping(value = "/")
    public String home(Model model) {
        return "homePage"; // View name
    }
}

In a Spring MVC application, mapping a controller to the context root while effectively utilizing the <mvc:resources> tag for resource handling is essential for serving both static and dynamic content without conflicts. Here's a detailed guide on achieving this setup.

<mvc:resources mapping="/static/**" location="/static/"/>

// Controller definition
@Controller
public class HomeController {
    @RequestMapping(value = "/")
    public String home(Model model) {
        return "homePage"; // This returns the home view
    }
}

// Web configuration with resource mapping
@EnableWebMvc
@Configuration
public class WebConfig implements WebMvcConfigurer {
    @Override
    public void addResourceHandlers(ResourceHandlerRegistry registry) {
        registry.addResourceHandler("/static/**").addResourceLocations("/static/");
    }
}

Causes

• Improper resource mapping can interfere with controller requests.
• Static resource mappings may override the controller paths.

Solutions

• Define the <mvc:resources> mapping before the controller mapping to avoid conflicts.
• Use specific mappings for resources to ensure they don't block controller routes.

Mistake: Placing <mvc:resources> mapping after controller to root (/) which may cause the controller not to respond as expected.

Solution: Always define <mvc:resources> before any controller mapping to avoid blocking access.

Mistake: Using broad mapping that may unintentionally capture controller requests.

Solution: Use specific resource mappings (e.g., /static/**) instead of general matchers.