The rule means that requests to /test/status/ will be redirected to /rewrite-status the url will be rewritten. /test/status/ %{context-path}/rewrite-status The outbound-rule specifies that when response.encodeURL is called (if you are using JSTL c:url) the url /rewrite-status will be rewritten to /test/status/. The above rule and this outbound-rule means that end users should never see the url /rewrite-status only /test/status/ both in thier location bar and in hyperlinks in your pages. /rewrite-status /test/status/ ([0-9]+) polls.jsp?poll=$1