Methods and components for processing Universal Resource Locator (URL) requests for web content are presented. The application servers and/or application software implement request switching components adapted to route URL requests for web content to servlets adapted to perform modularized functionality in servicing URL requests. The combination of request switch and servlet components define a request processing network. The advantages are derived from a flexibility in adding, modifying, and removing servlets from the request processing network at reduced regression testing. Each URL request is optimally routed only to necessary components to service the request. The use of request switches consolidates and simplifies the servlet triggering functionality in selecting servlets to service each URL request enabling specialized processing of URL requests. Solutions using servlet network arrangements enable parallel processing of URL requests.