The welcome file list contains an ordered list of welcome file elements to be used when the container receives a valid partial request. A valid partial request is a request for a URI that corresponds to a directory entry in the WAR not mapped to a Web component.
For example, if the container receives a request for //myhost:8080/myapp/mydir,
and mydir is not mapped
to a servlet or JSP file, then if the welcome file list includes
the mapping mydir/index.html, index.html is
displayed.
