[[beans-java-configuration-annotation]]
= Using the `@Configuration` annotation

`@Configuration` is a class-level annotation indicating that an object is a source of
bean definitions. `@Configuration` classes declare beans through `@Bean`-annotated
methods. Calls to `@Bean` methods on `@Configuration` classes can also be used to define
inter-bean dependencies. See xref:core/beans/java/basic-concepts.adoc[Basic Concepts: `@Bean` and `@Configuration`] for a general introduction.


[[beans-java-injecting-dependencies]]
== Injecting Inter-bean Dependencies

When beans have dependencies on one another, expressing that dependency is as simple
as having one bean method call another, as the following example shows:

[tabs]
======
Java::
+
[source,java,indent=0,subs="verbatim,quotes"]
----
	@Configuration
	public class AppConfig {

		@Bean
		public BeanOne beanOne() {
			return new BeanOne(beanTwo());
		}

		@Bean
		public BeanTwo beanTwo() {
			return new BeanTwo();
		}
	}
----

Kotlin::
+
[source,kotlin,indent=0,subs="verbatim,quotes"]
----
	@Configuration
	class AppConfig {

		@Bean
		fun beanOne() = BeanOne(beanTwo())

		@Bean
		fun beanTwo() = BeanTwo()
	}
----
======

In the preceding example, `beanOne` receives a reference to `beanTwo` through constructor
injection.

NOTE: This method of declaring inter-bean dependencies works only when the `@Bean` method
is declared within a `@Configuration` class. You cannot declare inter-bean dependencies
by using plain `@Component` classes.



[[beans-java-method-injection]]
== Lookup Method Injection

As noted earlier, xref:core/beans/dependencies/factory-method-injection.adoc[lookup method injection] is an
advanced feature that you should use rarely. It is useful in cases where a
singleton-scoped bean has a dependency on a prototype-scoped bean. Using Java for this
type of configuration provides a natural means for implementing this pattern. The
following example shows how to use lookup method injection:

[tabs]
======
Java::
+
[source,java,indent=0,subs="verbatim,quotes"]
----
	public abstract class CommandManager {
		public Object process(Object commandState) {
			// grab a new instance of the appropriate Command interface
			Command command = createCommand();
			// set the state on the (hopefully brand new) Command instance
			command.setState(commandState);
			return command.execute();
		}

		// okay... but where is the implementation of this method?
		protected abstract Command createCommand();
	}
----

Kotlin::
+
[source,kotlin,indent=0,subs="verbatim,quotes"]
----
	abstract class CommandManager {
		fun process(commandState: Any): Any {
			// grab a new instance of the appropriate Command interface
			val command = createCommand()
			// set the state on the (hopefully brand new) Command instance
			command.setState(commandState)
			return command.execute()
		}

		// okay... but where is the implementation of this method?
		protected abstract fun createCommand(): Command
	}
----
======

By using Java configuration, you can create a subclass of `CommandManager` where
the abstract `createCommand()` method is overridden in such a way that it looks up a new
(prototype) command object. The following example shows how to do so:

[tabs]
======
Java::
+
[source,java,indent=0,subs="verbatim,quotes"]
----
	@Bean
	@Scope("prototype")
	public AsyncCommand asyncCommand() {
		AsyncCommand command = new AsyncCommand();
		// inject dependencies here as required
		return command;
	}

	@Bean
	public CommandManager commandManager() {
		// return new anonymous implementation of CommandManager with createCommand()
		// overridden to return a new prototype Command object
		return new CommandManager() {
			protected Command createCommand() {
				return asyncCommand();
			}
		}
	}
----

Kotlin::
+
[source,kotlin,indent=0,subs="verbatim,quotes"]
----
	@Bean
	@Scope("prototype")
	fun asyncCommand(): AsyncCommand {
		val command = AsyncCommand()
		// inject dependencies here as required
		return command
	}

	@Bean
	fun commandManager(): CommandManager {
		// return new anonymous implementation of CommandManager with createCommand()
		// overridden to return a new prototype Command object
		return object : CommandManager() {
			override fun createCommand(): Command {
				return asyncCommand()
			}
		}
	}
----
======


[[beans-java-further-information-java-config]]
== Further Information About How Java-based Configuration Works Internally

Consider the following example, which shows a `@Bean` annotated method being called twice:

[tabs]
======
Java::
+
[source,java,indent=0,subs="verbatim,quotes"]
----
	@Configuration
	public class AppConfig {

		@Bean
		public ClientService clientService1() {
			ClientServiceImpl clientService = new ClientServiceImpl();
			clientService.setClientDao(clientDao());
			return clientService;
		}

		@Bean
		public ClientService clientService2() {
			ClientServiceImpl clientService = new ClientServiceImpl();
			clientService.setClientDao(clientDao());
			return clientService;
		}

		@Bean
		public ClientDao clientDao() {
			return new ClientDaoImpl();
		}
	}
----

Kotlin::
+
[source,kotlin,indent=0,subs="verbatim,quotes"]
----
	@Configuration
	class AppConfig {

		@Bean
		fun clientService1(): ClientService {
			return ClientServiceImpl().apply {
				clientDao = clientDao()
			}
		}

		@Bean
		fun clientService2(): ClientService {
			return ClientServiceImpl().apply {
				clientDao = clientDao()
			}
		}

		@Bean
		fun clientDao(): ClientDao {
			return ClientDaoImpl()
		}
	}
----
======

`clientDao()` has been called once in `clientService1()` and once in `clientService2()`.
Since this method creates a new instance of `ClientDaoImpl` and returns it, you would
normally expect to have two instances (one for each service). That definitely would be
problematic: In Spring, instantiated beans have a `singleton` scope by default. This is
where the magic comes in: All `@Configuration` classes are subclassed at startup-time
with `CGLIB`. In the subclass, the child method checks the container first for any
cached (scoped) beans before it calls the parent method and creates a new instance.

NOTE: The behavior could be different according to the scope of your bean. We are talking
about singletons here.

[NOTE]
====
It is not necessary to add CGLIB to your classpath because CGLIB classes are repackaged
under the `org.springframework.cglib` package and included directly within the
`spring-core` JAR.
====

[TIP]
====
There are a few restrictions due to the fact that CGLIB dynamically adds features at
startup-time. In particular, configuration classes must not be final. However, any
constructors are allowed on configuration classes, including the use of `@Autowired` or a
single non-default constructor declaration for default injection.

If you prefer to avoid any CGLIB-imposed limitations, consider declaring your `@Bean`
methods on non-`@Configuration` classes (for example, on plain `@Component` classes
instead) or by annotating your configuration class with
`@Configuration(proxyBeanMethods = false)`. Cross-method calls between `@Bean` methods
are then not intercepted, so you have to exclusively rely on dependency injection at the
constructor or method level there.
====



