Directory Structure

Every web application has the same directory structure: The application has its own directory under tomcat/webapps. This directory is known as the document root directory. The WEB-INF directory goes in the document root directory. The classes directory goes in the WEB-INF directory. The lib directory goes in the WEB-INF directory.

Certain files go in particular directories: JSP and static files (*.html, *.gif, etc.) go in the document root directory. Other files go in the WEB-INF directory, which is hidden from the client. The web.xml deployment descriptor goes in the WEB-INF directory Java classes go in the classes directory, or its sub directories. Jar files go in the lib directory. Servlet containers such as Tomcat will automatically: Read the deployment descriptors on startup. Discover lib/JAR files and add them to the classpath. Reload Java classes whenever their timestamp changes.