19.6 - Dependency Injection Using Spring Framework
Enroll to start learning
You’ve not yet enrolled in this course. Please enroll for free to listen to audio lessons, classroom podcasts and take practice test.
Interactive Audio Lesson
Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.
Introduction to Dependency Injection in Spring
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Today, we will discuss how to implement Dependency Injection in the Spring Framework. Can anyone tell me what Dependency Injection is?
Isn't it when an object receives its dependencies from an external source instead of creating them itself?
Exactly, great job! This allows for more manageable, testable, and flexible code. Now, how do you think Spring helps with this?
Spring uses containers to manage these dependencies, right?
That's correct! Spring’s ApplicationContext acts as an IoC container which oversees the lifecycle of your beans. Remember this: 'Spring manages with containers.' Let's explore the XML-based configuration next.
XML-based Configuration
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
In XML-based configuration, you define beans in an XML file. For example, we define an Engine and a Car in `beans.xml`. Can someone explain how these are linked?
The Car bean has a constructor argument ref to the Engine bean!
Correct! This demonstrates constructor injection. Can anyone tell me how we retrieve the car object in our application code?
We need to use `ApplicationContext` to fetch the Car bean using `getBean`.
Spot on! Using `ApplicationContext context = new ClassPathXmlApplicationContext("beans.xml");` helps create our application context. Now, let's move on to annotation-based configuration.
Annotation-based Configuration
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
With annotation-based configuration, we can simplify our code. We use `@Component` to mark our beans. Does anyone remember how we handle dependencies with annotations?
We use the `@Autowired` annotation to inject dependencies into constructors.
Exactly! This leads to cleaner implementation. By marking classes with `@Component`, we allow Spring to scan and register these beans automatically. Anyone can describe how we can create the application context?
By using `AnnotationConfigApplicationContext`, we can set it up with a configuration class, right?
Yes! Putting it all together, Spring's annotation configuration promotes a cleaner syntax and avoids XML. Summarizing, do remember: 'Fewer lines, greater clarity.'
Introduction & Overview
Read summaries of the section's main ideas at different levels of detail.
Quick Overview
Standard
The section provides a comprehensive look at configuring Dependency Injection in Spring, detailing XML-based and annotation-based methods. It demonstrates how to set up beans in a Spring application and emphasizes the role of the ApplicationContext in managing these configurations.
Detailed
Dependency Injection Using Spring Framework
In this section, we explore how to implement Dependency Injection (DI) using the Spring Framework. Spring provides a powerful mechanism for managing dependencies through both XML and annotation-based configurations.
Spring Configuration: XML-based
The XML-based configuration involves defining your beans in an XML file. For example, the following configuration in beans.xml shows how an Engine object is injected into a Car object:
This approach uses the Constructor Injection technique where the Car depends on an Engine instance which is defined in the XML configuration.
Java Classes
To utilize these configurations, the following code can be used:
Here, ApplicationContext acts as the container that fetches the Car bean and allows the execution of its methods.
Spring Annotation-based Configuration
In addition to XML configuration, Spring also supports annotation-based configurations which provide a more modern and concise approach.
For example:
In this example, the @Component annotation marks the Engine and Car classes for automatic detection. The @Autowired annotation is used to indicate that the Engine dependency should be injected into the Car constructor.
Main Class
To access these components, you'll need to configure your application context like so:
This highlights how Spring allows for elegant dependency management without requiring XML configuration, thereby promoting cleaner code and ease of use.
Youtube Videos
Audio Book
Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.
Spring Configuration: XML-based
Chapter 1 of 4
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
Detailed Explanation
In Spring, you can configure your beans using an XML file. This configuration defines how the various components in your application interact with each other. In the XML code provided, two beans are defined. The first bean is an instance of the Engine class, and the second bean is an instance of the Car class that requires an Engine object to be passed to its constructor. This method enables Spring to manage the lifecycle of these objects, injecting the necessary dependencies at runtime.
Examples & Analogies
Think of it like a recipe. The XML file is the recipe that tells the chef (Spring) how to prepare a dish (your application) using the right ingredients (beans). Just like a recipe lists the ingredients need to cook, the XML file lists the components needed for your application to run.
Java Classes for XML Configuration
Chapter 2 of 4
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
ApplicationContext context = new ClassPathXmlApplicationContext(
"beans.xml");
Car car = context.getBean("car", Car.class);
car.drive();
Detailed Explanation
Once the beans are defined in the XML file, the next step is to load these configurations into your Java application. This is done using the ApplicationContext in the code snippet. The ClassPathXmlApplicationContext loads the beans.xml file, and getBean retrieves an instance of the Car class. After that, invoking drive() on the Car object utilizes the injected Engine object to perform its action.
Examples & Analogies
Think of it like selecting a ready-made meal from a fridge. Here, beans.xml is your fridge filled with different meals (car objects). By saying context.getBean(), you're simply choosing a specific meal to eat (creating an instance of Car) and then enjoying it (calling the drive() method).
Spring Annotation-based Configuration
Chapter 3 of 4
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
@Component
class Engine {
public void start() {
System.out.println("Engine started.");
}
}
@Component
class Car {
private final Engine engine;
@Autowired
public Car(Engine engine) {
this.engine = engine;
}
public void drive() {
engine.start();
System.out.println("Driving...");
}
}
Detailed Explanation
Spring also allows you to configure your beans using annotations instead of XML. In this example, the @Component annotation marks both Engine and Car classes as Spring-managed components. The @Autowired annotation in the Car constructor tells Spring to inject the Engine dependency automatically. This approach makes the configuration more concise and readable while remaining effective in managing dependencies.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine you are building a Lego model. Using annotations is like having pre-packaged Lego blocks where each block tells you what it is and how it connects to other blocks. Instead of following a lengthy manual (XML), you simply click the pieces together based on their design (annotations), making it quicker and easier to build.
Main Class to Run the Application
Chapter 4 of 4
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
AnnotationConfigApplicationContext context = new AnnotationConfigApplicationContext(AppConfig.class); Car car = context.getBean(Car.class); car.drive();
Detailed Explanation
To run the application with annotation-based configuration, you set up an AnnotationConfigApplicationContext. This context uses the AppConfig class containing your configuration settings. By calling context.getBean(Car.class), you retrieve an instance of the Car class, which, due to the annotations, has its dependencies automatically injected. Finally, invoking drive() allows the Car to utilize its Engine and start driving.
Examples & Analogies
Continuing with the Lego model metaphor, this last step is like placing the completed Lego model on the table. Though it looks good, you still need to press a button to see it light up or perform some action (calling drive()). This last action brings the assembled parts into function, demonstrating how they work together.
Key Concepts
-
Dependency Injection (DI): A method of providing an object's dependencies from an external source rather than within the object itself.
-
Inversion of Control (IoC): A design concept indicating that object creation and control is shifted to a container.
-
ApplicationContext: The central interface of Spring's IoC container for managing beans.
-
Constructor Injection: A DI method where dependencies are provided through a class constructor.
-
Annotation-based Configuration: A simpler method where Spring manages dependencies using annotations like @Component and @Autowired.
Examples & Applications
Using XML configuration to set up an Engine and Car in beans.xml, showcasing constructor injection.
Using @Autowired in a Car class to inject an Engine instance, illustrating how Spring's annotation-based configuration simplifies dependency injection.
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Rhymes
In Spring we trust, dependencies we must, / @Component's a must, it’s the injection we trust.
Stories
Imagine a car that can only drive if it has an engine. Instead of the car finding the engine, the engine is handed over to it. That's DI in action!
Memory Tools
Remember 'CAB' for Spring - Component, Autowired, Bean - essential parts of Spring DI!
Acronyms
Think 'DI' for Dependency Injection – it means that dependencies are Injected!
Flash Cards
Glossary
- ApplicationContext
The central interface to the Spring IoC container, responsible for managing the lifecycle and configuration of the beans.
- Bean
An object that is instantiated, assembled, and managed by a Spring IoC container.
- Dependency Injection (DI)
A design pattern used to implement IoC, where an object receives its dependencies from an external source.
- Inversion of Control (IoC)
A design principle where the control of object creation and lifecycle management is inverted and handled by a framework or container.
- Component Scan
A Spring feature that enables automatic detection of beans annotated with
@Componentin specified packages.
Reference links
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.