Why do we use web.xml?

What is the use of web.xml and why do we use?

<filter>
        <filter-name>wicket.mysticpaste</filter-name>
        <filter-class>org.apache.wicket.protocol.http.WicketFilter</filter-class>
        <init-param>
            <param-name>applicationClassName</param-name>
            <param-value>com.mysticcoders.WicketApplication</param-value>
        </init-param>
    </filter>

 <filter-mapping>
  <filter-name>wicket.mysticpaste</filter-name>
    <url-pattern>/*</url-pattern>
 </filter-mapping>

What does this filer and filermapping do?