The Spring Framework

org.springframework.beans.factory.config
Interface BeanDefinition

All Superinterfaces:
AttributeAccessor, BeanMetadataElement
All Known Subinterfaces:
AnnotatedBeanDefinition
All Known Implementing Classes:
AbstractBeanDefinition, AnnotatedGenericBeanDefinition, ChildBeanDefinition, GenericBeanDefinition, RootBeanDefinition, ScannedGenericBeanDefinition

public interface BeanDefinition
extends AttributeAccessor, BeanMetadataElement

A BeanDefinition describes a bean instance, which has property values, constructor argument values, and further information supplied by concrete implementations.

This is just a minimal interface: The main intention is to allow a BeanFactoryPostProcessor such as PropertyPlaceholderConfigurer to introspect and modify property values and other bean metadata.

Since:
19.03.2004
Author:
Juergen Hoeller, Rob Harrop
See Also:
ConfigurableListableBeanFactory.getBeanDefinition(java.lang.String), RootBeanDefinition, ChildBeanDefinition

Field Summary
static int ROLE_APPLICATION
          Role hint indicating that a BeanDefinition is a major part of the application.
static int ROLE_INFRASTRUCTURE
          Role hint indicating that a BeanDefinition is providing an entirely background role and has no relevance to the end-user.
static int ROLE_SUPPORT
          Role hint indicating that a BeanDefinition is a supporting part of some larger configuration, typically an outer ComponentDefinition.
static String SCOPE_PROTOTYPE
          Scope identifier for the standard prototype scope: "prototype".
static String SCOPE_SINGLETON
          Scope identifier for the standard singleton scope: "singleton".
 
Method Summary
 String getBeanClassName()
          Return the current bean class name of this bean definition.
 ConstructorArgumentValues getConstructorArgumentValues()
          Return the constructor argument values for this bean.
 String getDescription()
          Return a human-readable description of this bean definition.
 String getFactoryBeanName()
          Return the factory bean name, if any.
 String getFactoryMethodName()
          Return a factory method, if any.
 BeanDefinition getOriginatingBeanDefinition()
          Return the originating BeanDefinition, or null if none.
 String getParentName()
          Return the name of the parent definition of this bean definition, if any.
 MutablePropertyValues getPropertyValues()
          Return the property values to be applied to a new instance of the bean.
 String getResourceDescription()
          Return a description of the resource that this bean definition came from (for the purpose of showing context in case of errors).
 int getRole()
          Get the role hint for this BeanDefinition.
 String getScope()
          Return the name of the current target scope for this bean.
 boolean isAbstract()
          Return whether this bean is "abstract", that is, not meant to be instantiated.
 boolean isAutowireCandidate()
          Return whether this bean is a candidate for getting autowired into some other bean.
 boolean isLazyInit()
          Return whether this bean should be lazily initialized, that is, not eagerly instantiated on startup.
 boolean isSingleton()
          Return whether this a Singleton, with a single, shared instance returned on all calls.
 void setAutowireCandidate(boolean autowireCandidate)
          Set whether this bean is a candidate for getting autowired into some other bean.
 void setBeanClassName(String beanClassName)
          Override the bean class name of this bean definition.
 void setFactoryBeanName(String factoryBeanName)
          Specify the factory bean to use, if any.
 void setFactoryMethodName(String factoryMethodName)
          Specify a factory method, if any.
 void setParentName(String parentName)
          Set the name of the parent definition of this bean definition, if any.
 void setScope(String scope)
          Override the target scope of this bean, specifying a new scope name.
 
Methods inherited from interface org.springframework.core.AttributeAccessor
attributeNames, getAttribute, hasAttribute, removeAttribute, setAttribute
 
Methods inherited from interface org.springframework.beans.BeanMetadataElement
getSource
 

Field Detail

SCOPE_SINGLETON

static final String SCOPE_SINGLETON
Scope identifier for the standard singleton scope: "singleton".

Note that extended bean factories might support further scopes.

See Also:
setScope(java.lang.String), Constant Field Values

SCOPE_PROTOTYPE

static final String SCOPE_PROTOTYPE
Scope identifier for the standard prototype scope: "prototype".

Note that extended bean factories might support further scopes.

See Also:
setScope(java.lang.String), Constant Field Values

ROLE_APPLICATION

static final int ROLE_APPLICATION
Role hint indicating that a BeanDefinition is a major part of the application. Typically corresponds to a user-defined bean.

See Also:
Constant Field Values

ROLE_SUPPORT

static final int ROLE_SUPPORT
Role hint indicating that a BeanDefinition is a supporting part of some larger configuration, typically an outer ComponentDefinition. SUPPORT beans are considered important enough to be aware of when looking more closely at a particular ComponentDefinition, but not when looking at the overall configuration of an application.

See Also:
Constant Field Values

ROLE_INFRASTRUCTURE

static final int ROLE_INFRASTRUCTURE
Role hint indicating that a BeanDefinition is providing an entirely background role and has no relevance to the end-user. This hint is used when registering beans that are completely part of the internal workings of a ComponentDefinition.

See Also:
Constant Field Values
Method Detail

getParentName

String getParentName()
Return the name of the parent definition of this bean definition, if any.


setParentName

void setParentName(String parentName)
Set the name of the parent definition of this bean definition, if any.


getBeanClassName

String getBeanClassName()
Return the current bean class name of this bean definition.

Note that this does not have to be the actual class name used at runtime, in case of a child definition overriding/inheriting the class name from its parent. Hence, do not consider this to be the definitive bean type at runtime but rather only use it for parsing purposes at the individual bean definition level.


setBeanClassName

void setBeanClassName(String beanClassName)
Override the bean class name of this bean definition.

The class name can be modified during bean factory post-processing, typically replacing the original class name with a parsed variant of it.


getFactoryBeanName

String getFactoryBeanName()
Return the factory bean name, if any.


setFactoryBeanName

void setFactoryBeanName(String factoryBeanName)
Specify the factory bean to use, if any.


getFactoryMethodName

String getFactoryMethodName()
Return a factory method, if any.


setFactoryMethodName

void setFactoryMethodName(String factoryMethodName)
Specify a factory method, if any. This method will be invoked with constructor arguments, or with no arguments if none are specified. The method will be invoked on the specifed factory bean, if any, or as static method on the local bean class else.

Parameters:
factoryMethodName - static factory method name, or null if normal constructor creation should be used
See Also:
getBeanClassName()

getScope

String getScope()
Return the name of the current target scope for this bean.


setScope

void setScope(String scope)
Override the target scope of this bean, specifying a new scope name.

See Also:
SCOPE_SINGLETON, SCOPE_PROTOTYPE

isAutowireCandidate

boolean isAutowireCandidate()
Return whether this bean is a candidate for getting autowired into some other bean.


setAutowireCandidate

void setAutowireCandidate(boolean autowireCandidate)
Set whether this bean is a candidate for getting autowired into some other bean.


getConstructorArgumentValues

ConstructorArgumentValues getConstructorArgumentValues()
Return the constructor argument values for this bean.

The returned instance can be modified during bean factory post-processing.

Returns:
the ConstructorArgumentValues object (never null)

getPropertyValues

MutablePropertyValues getPropertyValues()
Return the property values to be applied to a new instance of the bean.

The returned instance can be modified during bean factory post-processing.

Returns:
the MutablePropertyValues object (never null)

isSingleton

boolean isSingleton()
Return whether this a Singleton, with a single, shared instance returned on all calls.


isAbstract

boolean isAbstract()
Return whether this bean is "abstract", that is, not meant to be instantiated.


isLazyInit

boolean isLazyInit()
Return whether this bean should be lazily initialized, that is, not eagerly instantiated on startup.


getDescription

String getDescription()
Return a human-readable description of this bean definition.


getResourceDescription

String getResourceDescription()
Return a description of the resource that this bean definition came from (for the purpose of showing context in case of errors).


getOriginatingBeanDefinition

BeanDefinition getOriginatingBeanDefinition()
Return the originating BeanDefinition, or null if none. Allows for retrieving the decorated bean definition, if any.

Note that this method returns the immediate originator. Iterate through the originator chain to find the original BeanDefinition as defined by the user.


getRole

int getRole()
Get the role hint for this BeanDefinition. The role hint provides tools with an indication of the importance of a particular BeanDefinition.

See Also:
ROLE_APPLICATION, ROLE_INFRASTRUCTURE, ROLE_SUPPORT

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