forwarding is done without letting client know that, It is used to do internal communication at server, while in redirecting we are asking client go back and ask it over here.
Real life example
Forwarding
You went to postoffice there are number of boxes and person sitting there, now one of them accepts your request and it internally forwards it to other responsible person to fulfil your request and at the end of the process you will get the result
Redirecting
now the same person gives you a token which says goto window no5 and ask that person .
Also See
- difference-between-jsp-forward-and-redirect
