code: public static int getScope(String scope) {
          int ret = PageContext.PAGE_SCOPE; // default
  
          if (REQUEST.equalsIgnoreCase(scope)) {
              ret = PageContext.REQUEST_SCOPE;
          } else if (SESSION.equalsIgnoreCase(scope)) {
              ret = PageContext.SESSION_SCOPE;
          } else if (APPLICATION.equalsIgnoreCase(scope)) {
              ret = PageContext.APPLICATION_SCOPE;
          }
          return ret;
      }
docs: Converts the given string description of a scope to the corresponding
  PageContext constant.
  
  The validity of the given scope has already been checked by the
  appropriate TLV.
  
  @param scope String description of scope
  
  @return PageContext constant corresponding to given scope description