JSF: call backing-bean method without rendering the page (using URL parameters)

Question

Is it possible to use a JSF (PrimeFaces) page in the following fashion ? :

1. external application (not JSF-based) does an

Answer 1

Use <f:viewParam> to set GET parameters as bean properties and use <f:event> to execute a bean action and use NavigationHandler to perform navigation programmatically.

View:

<f:metadata>
    <f:viewParam name="foo" value="#{bean.foo}" />
    <f:viewParam name="bar" value="#{bean.bar}" />
    <f:event type="preRenderView" listener="#{bean.action}" />
</f:metadata>

Bean:

public void action() {
    // ...

    FacesContext context = FacesContext.getCurrentInstance();
    NavigationHandler navigationHandler = context.getApplication().getNavigationHandler();
    navigationHandler.handleNavigation(context, null, "outcome");
}

Note that, depending on the concrete functional requirement, JSF might not necessarily be the right tool for the job. I'd investigate if you couldn't better use a servlet filter or even a plain servlet for the purpose.

See also:

• What can <f:metadata>, <f:viewParam> and <f:viewAction> be used for?
• Hit a bean method and redirect on a GET request