Spring
Spring framework with Java
Spring framework is a robust platform that provides developers various tools for creating Java applications. It’s one of the most popular Java frameworks, which handles the infrastructure while allowing developers to focus on building the applications.
Spring framework enables building Java applications from the so-called “Plain Old Java Objects” (POJOs) and applying enterprise services non-invasively to POJOs in the Java SE programming model and full and partial Java EE (Java Enterprise Edition).
How does the Spring framework work?
Spring framework can be ideal for developing enterprise-scale applications thanks to its extensive support for building structures, incorporating technologies that include:
- Aspect-oriented programming (AOP)
- Dependency injection (DI)
- As mentioned, Plain Old Java Objects (POJOs)
Including different functions, the Spring framework can help developers create additional functions, including methods defining a remote procedure or transaction management without the help of remote APIs.
Moreover, Spring is a lightweight framework that provides mechanisms for other frameworks like Struts, Hibernate, EJB, JSF, and Tapestry. It can help solve real-time technical problems. Spring framework comprises different modules, including WEB MVC, IOC, DAO, AOP, Context, and ORM.
Dependency injection in Spring
One of the fundamental aspects of Spring IOC (Inversion of Control) is dependency injection. It injects objects into the other objects (also called dependencies). In other words, it allows for loose coupling of components and makes the Spring container responsible for managing components.
Dependency injection keeps the Java classes independent of each other, and the container frees them from object creation and maintenance. Dependency injection can help avoid problems like system failure in the long run by combining the application classes while maintaining their independence.
Aspect-oriented programming in Spring
The aspect-oriented programming paradigm in software development aims to modularise cross-cutting concerns (features or requirements that span multiple modules or application objects). It allows us to separate these cross-cutting concerns from the core business logic of the web application.
To apply the aspect-oriented programming paradigm, we usually use annotations or configuration files to define aspects and specify where they should be applied. Spring AOP supports different types of advice, such as before advice (executed before a join point), after advice (performed after a join point, regardless of its outcome), around advice (wrapped around a join point, allowing us to control its execution), and more.
Spring and Spring Boot
When we delve into the Spring framework, it’s impossible not to stumble upon Spring Boot. How is Spring Boot related to Spring?
Simply put, Spring Boot is the extension of the Spring framework. It eliminates the boilerplate configurations required for setting up a Spring application. Among the most important features of Spring Boot, there are as follows:
- Opinionated ‘starter’ dependencies to help simplify the build and application configuration
- Metrics, health check, and externalised configuration
- Automatic design for Spring functionality when possible
- Embedded server to avoid complexity in application deployment
Both Spring and Spring Boot support package managing technologies like Maven and Gradle. But they differ significantly when it comes to deployment. There are certain advantages of Spring Boot in that department that include:
- Embedded container support
- Ability to run the jars independently
- Possibility to exclude dependencies to avoid potential jar conflicts
- Random port generation for integration tests
- Ability to specify active profiles when deploying
In conclusion, Spring Boot extends the Spring framework for more convenient development, testing and deployment.
Spring Security
A great addition to the Spring framework features can be the Security framework. It is a practical and highly customisable authentication and data access control framework. It’s often used as a standard for Spring applications.
Various handy functions come with this framework, and the most notable include:
- Comprehensive, extensible support for authentication and authorisation
- Protection against attacks such as session fixation, clickjacking, cross-site request forgery and more
- Servlet API integration
- Optional integration with Spring Web MVC
Why should you consider using the Spring framework?
Spring can make an ideal web framework. With features like control container, inversion of control (IOC) and exception handling, it can fit right into your business logic.
Spring’s web framework using Spring Bean objects can contribute to building an application server and may scale up to global transactions. It integrates with various Java EE technologies such as RMI (Remote Method Invocation), AMQP (Advanced Message Queuing Protocol), and Java Web Services.
Build your web applications in Spring with our expert developers
At DAC.digital, we have developers proficient in different programming languages and frameworks. Spring and Java have a steady place in our technology stack. Want to start developing your web applications in Spring? Contact us, and let’s discuss the details.