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Spring - Dependency injection in @Bean method parameters

[Last Updated: Dec 22, 2023]

In a @Configuration class, the methods annotated with @Bean may depend on other beans to initialize themselves. Other beans should be annotated with @Bean as well to be registered with the Spring container.

Spring provides a mechanism where we can pass such bean dependencies with @Bean method parameters. They are injected by the framework just like a arbitrary method's dependencies are resolved

There are following scenarios:



  1. Injecting by type:

    If there's only one bean instance available to be injected to the injection target point then it will be injected successfully by type.


  2. Injecting by name:

    If there are more than one instance of the same type available for a target injection point then there's a conflict (ambiguity). Spring doesn't know which particular instance to be injected in that case. If the name of parameter is same as bean's definition method (the method annotated with @Bean) name then the dependency is resolved by name.

    The bean's definition method can provide a different name than the method name by using @Bean(name = ...), the injection point method's parameter name should match in that case as well.


  3. Injecting by bean's name with matching @Qualifier:

    If there's an ambiguity then it can also be resolved if the injection point method parameter add a @Qualifier annotation with matching target bean's name.


  4. Injecting by matching @Qualifiers

    Ambiguity can also be resolve by using @Qualifier on the both sides. This is important when a bean provider method has already indented to be exposed as a @Qualifier per business logic sense, so that a particular bean's implementation can be changed without updating all injection points.



Examples


Bean classes

package com.logicbig.example;

public class BeanA {
  private String name;

  public BeanA(String name){
      this.name = name;
  }

  @Override
  public String toString() {
      return "BeanA{" +
              "name='" + name + '\'' +
              '}';
  }
}
package com.logicbig.example;

public class BeanB {
  private BeanA beanA;

  BeanB (BeanA beanA) {
      this.beanA = beanA;
  }

  public BeanA getBeanA () {
      return beanA;
  }

  @Override
  public String toString() {
      return "BeanB{" +
              "beanA=" + beanA +
              '}';
  }
}
package com.logicbig.example;

public class BeanC {
  private String name;

  public BeanC(String name){
      this.name = name;
  }

  @Override
  public String toString() {
      return "BeanC{" +
              "name='" + name + '\'' +
              '}';
  }
}

Injecting by type

package com.logicbig.example;

import org.springframework.context.annotation.AnnotationConfigApplicationContext;
import org.springframework.context.annotation.Bean;
import org.springframework.context.annotation.Configuration;

public class InjectParameterByType {

    public static void main (String[] args) {
        AnnotationConfigApplicationContext context =
                            new AnnotationConfigApplicationContext(
                                                Config.class);
        BeanB beanB = context.getBean(BeanB.class);
        System.out.println("In the main method: " + beanB.getBeanA());
    }

    @Configuration
    public static class Config {

        @Bean
        public BeanA bean1 () {
            return new BeanA("a1");
        }

        @Bean
        public BeanB bean2 (BeanA theBean) {
            BeanB beanB = new BeanB(theBean);
            System.out.println("method bean2: beanB created = " + beanB +
                                "\n with constructor param BeanA = " + theBean);

            return beanB;
        }
    }
}

Output

method bean2: beanB created = BeanB{beanA=BeanA{name='a1'}}
with constructor param BeanA = BeanA{name='a1'}
In the main method: BeanA{name='a1'}

Injecting by default bean names

package com.logicbig.example;

import org.springframework.context.annotation.AnnotationConfigApplicationContext;
import org.springframework.context.annotation.Bean;
import org.springframework.context.annotation.Configuration;

public class InjectParameterByName {

    public static void main (String[] args) {
        AnnotationConfigApplicationContext context =
                            new AnnotationConfigApplicationContext(
                                                Config.class);
        BeanB beanB = context.getBean(BeanB.class);
        System.out.println("In the main method: " + beanB.getBeanA());
    }

    @Configuration
    public static class Config {

        @Bean
        public BeanA bean1 () {
            return new BeanA("a1");
        }

        @Bean
        public BeanA bean2 () {
            return new BeanA("a2");
        }

        @Bean
        public BeanB bean3 (BeanA bean1) {
            BeanB beanB = new BeanB(bean1);
            System.out.println("method bean3: beanB created = " + beanB +
                                "\n with constructor param BeanA: " + bean1);

            return beanB;
        }
    }
}

Output

method bean3: beanB created = BeanB{beanA=BeanA{name='a1'}}
with constructor param BeanA: BeanA{name='a1'}
In the main method: BeanA{name='a1'}

Post Spring 6.1.0 we need to use --parameters during compilation. That's because spring internal class LocalVariableTableParameterNameDiscoverer has been removed in 6.1. Java 8+ -parameter flag is used for parameter name retention.

 <compilerArgs>
      <arg>-parameters</arg>
 </compilerArgs>

Injecting by using @Qualifier at both places

package com.logicbig.example;

import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Qualifier;
import org.springframework.context.annotation.AnnotationConfigApplicationContext;
import org.springframework.context.annotation.Bean;
import org.springframework.context.annotation.Configuration;

public class InjectParameterByQualifier {

    public static void main (String[] args) {
        AnnotationConfigApplicationContext context =
                            new AnnotationConfigApplicationContext(
                                                Config.class);
        BeanB beanB = context.getBean(BeanB.class);
        System.out.println("In the main method: " + beanB.getBeanA());
    }

    @Configuration
    public static class Config {

        @Bean
        public BeanA bean1 () {
            return new BeanA("a1");
        }

        @Qualifier("myBean")
        @Bean
        public BeanA bean2 () {
            return new BeanA("a2");
        }

        @Bean
        public BeanB bean3 (@Qualifier("myBean") BeanA theBean) {
            BeanB beanB = new BeanB(theBean);
            System.out.println("method bean3: beanB created = " + beanB +
                                "\n with constructor param BeanA = " + theBean);

            return beanB;
        }
    }
}

Output

method bean3: beanB created = BeanB{beanA=BeanA{name='a2'}}
with constructor param BeanA = BeanA{name='a2'}
In the main method: BeanA{name='a2'}

Injecting by using @Qualifier at injection point only

package com.logicbig.example;

import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Qualifier;
import org.springframework.context.annotation.AnnotationConfigApplicationContext;
import org.springframework.context.annotation.Bean;
import org.springframework.context.annotation.Configuration;

public class InjectParameterByQualifier2 {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        AnnotationConfigApplicationContext context =
                new AnnotationConfigApplicationContext(
                        Config.class);
        BeanB beanB = context.getBean(BeanB.class);
        System.out.println("In the main method: " + beanB.getBeanA());
    }

    @Configuration
    public static class Config {

        @Bean
        public BeanA bean1() {
            return new BeanA("a1");
        }

        @Bean
        public BeanA bean2() {
            return new BeanA("a2");
        }

        @Bean
        public BeanB bean3(@Qualifier("bean2") BeanA theBean) {
            BeanB beanB = new BeanB(theBean);
            System.out.println("method bean3: beanB created = " + beanB +
                    "\n with constructor param BeanA = " + theBean);

            return beanB;
        }
    }
}

Output

method bean3: beanB created = BeanB{beanA=BeanA{name='a2'}}
with constructor param BeanA = BeanA{name='a2'}
In the main method: BeanA{name='a2'}

Injecting multiple beans using @Qualifier

package com.logicbig.example;

import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Qualifier;
import org.springframework.context.annotation.AnnotationConfigApplicationContext;
import org.springframework.context.annotation.Bean;
import org.springframework.context.annotation.Configuration;

public class InjectParameterByQualifier3 {

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        AnnotationConfigApplicationContext context =
                new AnnotationConfigApplicationContext(
                        Config.class);
        BeanB beanB = context.getBean(BeanB.class);
        System.out.println("In the main method: " + beanB.getBeanA());
    }

    @Configuration
    public static class Config {

        @Bean
        public BeanA bean1() {
            return new BeanA("a1");
        }

        @Bean
        @Qualifier("myBean")
        public BeanA bean2() {
            return new BeanA("a2");
        }

        @Bean
        public BeanC bean3() {
            return new BeanC("c1");
        }

        @Bean
        @Qualifier("myBean2")
        public BeanC bean4() {
            return new BeanC("c2");
        }

        @Bean
        public BeanB bean5(@Qualifier("myBean") BeanA theBean,
                           @Qualifier("myBean2") BeanC theBean2) {
            BeanB beanB = new BeanB(theBean);
            System.out.println("method bean5: beanB created = " + beanB +
                    "\n with constructor param of type BeanA= " + theBean);
            System.out.println("method bean5: theBean2 instance (can also be in as constructor " +
                    "arg or some " +
                    "other way): " + theBean2);

            return beanB;
        }
    }
}

Output

method bean5: beanB created = BeanB{beanA=BeanA{name='a2'}}
with constructor param of type BeanA= BeanA{name='a2'}
method bean5: theBean2 instance (can also be in as constructor arg or some other way): BeanC{name='c2'}
In the main method: BeanA{name='a2'}

Example Project

Dependencies and Technologies Used:

  • spring-context 6.1.2 (Spring Context)
     Version Compatibility: 3.2.9.RELEASE - 6.1.2Version List
    ×

    Version compatibilities of spring-context with this example:

    • 3.2.9.RELEASE
    • 3.2.10.RELEASE
    • 3.2.11.RELEASE
    • 3.2.12.RELEASE
    • 3.2.13.RELEASE
    • 3.2.14.RELEASE
    • 3.2.15.RELEASE
    • 3.2.16.RELEASE
    • 3.2.17.RELEASE
    • 3.2.18.RELEASE
    • 4.0.0.RELEASE
    • 4.0.1.RELEASE
    • 4.0.2.RELEASE
    • 4.0.3.RELEASE
    • 4.0.4.RELEASE
    • 4.0.5.RELEASE
    • 4.0.6.RELEASE
    • 4.0.7.RELEASE
    • 4.0.8.RELEASE
    • 4.0.9.RELEASE
    • 4.1.0.RELEASE
    • 4.1.1.RELEASE
    • 4.1.2.RELEASE
    • 4.1.3.RELEASE
    • 4.1.4.RELEASE
    • 4.1.5.RELEASE
    • 4.1.6.RELEASE
    • 4.1.7.RELEASE
    • 4.1.8.RELEASE
    • 4.1.9.RELEASE
    • 4.2.0.RELEASE
    • 4.2.1.RELEASE
    • 4.2.2.RELEASE
    • 4.2.3.RELEASE
    • 4.2.4.RELEASE
    • 4.2.5.RELEASE
    • 4.2.6.RELEASE
    • 4.2.7.RELEASE
    • 4.2.8.RELEASE
    • 4.2.9.RELEASE
    • 4.3.0.RELEASE
    • 4.3.1.RELEASE
    • 4.3.2.RELEASE
    • 4.3.3.RELEASE
    • 4.3.4.RELEASE
    • 4.3.5.RELEASE
    • 4.3.6.RELEASE
    • 4.3.7.RELEASE
    • 4.3.8.RELEASE
    • 4.3.9.RELEASE
    • 4.3.10.RELEASE
    • 4.3.11.RELEASE
    • 4.3.12.RELEASE
    • 4.3.13.RELEASE
    • 4.3.14.RELEASE
    • 4.3.15.RELEASE
    • 4.3.16.RELEASE
    • 4.3.17.RELEASE
    • 4.3.18.RELEASE
    • 4.3.19.RELEASE
    • 4.3.20.RELEASE
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    • 4.3.24.RELEASE
    • 4.3.25.RELEASE
    • 4.3.26.RELEASE
    • 4.3.27.RELEASE
    • 4.3.28.RELEASE
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    • 4.3.30.RELEASE
    • 5.0.0.RELEASE
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    • 5.0.2.RELEASE
    • 5.0.3.RELEASE
    • 5.0.4.RELEASE
    • 5.0.5.RELEASE
    • 5.0.6.RELEASE
    • 5.0.7.RELEASE
    • 5.0.8.RELEASE
    • 5.0.9.RELEASE
    • 5.0.10.RELEASE
    • 5.0.11.RELEASE
    • 5.0.12.RELEASE
    • 5.0.13.RELEASE
    • 5.0.14.RELEASE
    • 5.0.15.RELEASE
    • 5.0.16.RELEASE
    • 5.0.17.RELEASE
    • 5.0.18.RELEASE
    • 5.0.19.RELEASE
    • 5.0.20.RELEASE
    • 5.1.0.RELEASE
    • 5.1.1.RELEASE
    • 5.1.2.RELEASE
    • 5.1.3.RELEASE
    • 5.1.4.RELEASE
    • 5.1.5.RELEASE
    • 5.1.6.RELEASE
    • 5.1.7.RELEASE
    • 5.1.8.RELEASE
    • 5.1.9.RELEASE
    • 5.1.10.RELEASE
    • 5.1.11.RELEASE
    • 5.1.12.RELEASE
    • 5.1.13.RELEASE
    • 5.1.14.RELEASE
    • 5.1.15.RELEASE
    • 5.1.16.RELEASE
    • 5.1.17.RELEASE
    • 5.1.18.RELEASE
    • 5.1.19.RELEASE
    • 5.1.20.RELEASE
    • 5.2.0.RELEASE
    • 5.2.1.RELEASE
    • 5.2.2.RELEASE
    • 5.2.3.RELEASE
    • 5.2.4.RELEASE
    • 5.2.5.RELEASE
    • 5.2.6.RELEASE
    • 5.2.7.RELEASE
    • 5.2.8.RELEASE
    • 5.2.9.RELEASE
    • 5.2.10.RELEASE
    • 5.2.11.RELEASE
    • 5.2.12.RELEASE
    • 5.2.13.RELEASE
    • 5.2.14.RELEASE
    • 5.2.15.RELEASE
    • 5.2.16.RELEASE
    • 5.2.17.RELEASE
    • 5.2.18.RELEASE
    • 5.2.19.RELEASE
    • 5.2.20.RELEASE
    • 5.2.21.RELEASE
    • 5.2.22.RELEASE
    • 5.2.23.RELEASE
    • 5.2.24.RELEASE
    • 5.2.25.RELEASE
    • 5.3.0
    • 5.3.1
    • 5.3.2
    • 5.3.3
    • 5.3.4
    • 5.3.5
    • 5.3.6
    • 5.3.7
    • 5.3.8
    • 5.3.9
    • 5.3.10
    • 5.3.11
    • 5.3.12
    • 5.3.13
    • 5.3.14
    • 5.3.15
    • 5.3.16
    • 5.3.17
    • 5.3.18
    • 5.3.19
    • 5.3.20
    • 5.3.21
    • 5.3.22
    • 5.3.23
    • 5.3.24
    • 5.3.25
    • 5.3.26
    • 5.3.27
    • 5.3.28
    • 5.3.29
    • 5.3.30
    • 5.3.31
    • Compatible Java Version: 17+
    • 6.0.0
    • 6.0.1
    • 6.0.2
    • 6.0.3
    • 6.0.4
    • 6.0.5
    • 6.0.6
    • 6.0.7
    • 6.0.8
    • 6.0.9
    • 6.0.10
    • 6.0.11
    • 6.0.12
    • 6.0.13
    • 6.0.14
    • 6.0.15
    • 6.1.0
    • 6.1.1
    • 6.1.2

    Versions in green have been tested.

  • JDK 17
  • Maven 3.8.1

Spring - The @Bean methods and their inter-dependencies. Select All Download
  • bean-method-parameters
    • src
      • main
        • java
          • com
            • logicbig
              • example
                • InjectParameterByName.java

    See Also