The defer() and forward(String url) element methods permit better integration of RIFE applications with in-container and external web applications.

The defer() method will only work if RIFE is used as a servlet filter (which is its default mode of operation). It simply interrupts any RIFE processing immediately and makes the servlet engine continue the processing of the filter chain.

The forward(String url) method is like the standard servlet forward method, except that it goes much further. You can provide it with any URL, both local and remote. It will send a request to that URL and output its response through the response of the element that executed the forward.