Package org.springframework.context

This package builds on the beans package to add support for message sources and for the Observer design pattern, and the ability for application objects to obtain resources using a consistent API.

See:
          Description

Interface Summary
ApplicationContext Central interface to provide configuration for an application.
ApplicationContextAware Interface to be implemented by any object that wishes to be notified of the ApplicationContext that it runs in.
ApplicationEventPublisher Interface that encapsulates event publication functionality.
ApplicationEventPublisherAware Interface to be implemented by any object that wishes to be notified of the ApplicationEventPublisher (typically the ApplicationContext) that it runs in.
ApplicationListener<E extends ApplicationEvent> Interface to be implemented by application event listeners.
ConfigurableApplicationContext SPI interface to be implemented by most if not all application contexts.
HierarchicalMessageSource Sub-interface of MessageSource to be implemented by objects that can resolve messages hierarchically.
Lifecycle Interface defining methods for start/stop lifecycle control.
LifecycleProcessor Strategy interface for processing Lifecycle beans within the ApplicationContext.
MessageSource Strategy interface for resolving messages, with support for the parameterization and internationalization of such messages.
MessageSourceAware Interface to be implemented by any object that wishes to be notified of the MessageSource (typically the ApplicationContext) that it runs in.
MessageSourceResolvable Interface for objects that are suitable for message resolution in a MessageSource.
Phased Interface for objects that may participate in a phased process such as lifecycle management.
ResourceLoaderAware Interface to be implemented by any object that wishes to be notified of the ResourceLoader (typically the ApplicationContext) that it runs in.
SmartLifecycle An extension of the Lifecycle interface for those objects that require to be started upon ApplicationContext refresh and/or shutdown in a particular order.
 

Class Summary
ApplicationEvent Class to be extended by all application events.
 

Exception Summary
ApplicationContextException Exception thrown during application context initialization.
NoSuchMessageException Exception thrown when a message can't be resolved.
 

Package org.springframework.context Description

This package builds on the beans package to add support for message sources and for the Observer design pattern, and the ability for application objects to obtain resources using a consistent API.

There is no necessity for Spring applications to depend on ApplicationContext or even BeanFactory functionality explicitly. One of the strengths of the Spring architecture is that application objects can often be configured without any dependency on Spring-specific APIs.