Defining Tomcat context paths

The blog post by Matthew Casperson delves into the intricacies of configuring context paths for web applications in Tomcat, a popular Java application server. It explains how context paths determine the URLs from which applications are accessed, and outlines the methods available in Tomcat for setting these paths, such as through the <Host> element in the server.xml file, the webapps directory, and the use of WAR and exploded WAR deployments. The post highlights the complications and specific configurations associated with context paths, including the use of nested paths and the role of context.xml files in defining these paths. It cautions against certain practices, like defining context paths directly in the server.xml file, and emphasizes the importance of naming conventions in both deployment directories and XML configuration files. Additionally, the text touches upon the use of Tomcat's Manager Application for uploading and managing deployments, while underlining best practices for user permissions. Overall, the article offers a comprehensive examination of deploying Java web applications on Tomcat, focusing on the correct setup and automation of context paths.