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Model

See equivalent in the Reactive stack

You can use the @ModelAttribute annotation:

  • On a method argument in @RequestMapping methods to create or access an Object from the model and to bind it to the request through a WebDataBinder.

  • As a method-level annotation in @Controller or @ControllerAdvice classes that help to initialize the model prior to any @RequestMapping method invocation.

  • On a @RequestMapping method to mark its return value is a model attribute.

This section discusses @ModelAttribute methods — the second item in the preceding list. A controller can have any number of @ModelAttribute methods. All such methods are invoked before @RequestMapping methods in the same controller. A @ModelAttribute method can also be shared across controllers through @ControllerAdvice. See the section on Controller Advice for more details.

@ModelAttribute methods have flexible method signatures. They support many of the same arguments as @RequestMapping methods, except for @ModelAttribute itself or anything related to the request body.

The following example shows a @ModelAttribute method:

  • Java

  • Kotlin

@ModelAttribute
public void populateModel(@RequestParam String number, Model model) {
	model.addAttribute(accountRepository.findAccount(number));
	// add more ...
}
@ModelAttribute
fun populateModel(@RequestParam number: String, model: Model) {
	model.addAttribute(accountRepository.findAccount(number))
	// add more ...
}

The following example adds only one attribute:

  • Java

  • Kotlin

@ModelAttribute
public Account addAccount(@RequestParam String number) {
	return accountRepository.findAccount(number);
}
@ModelAttribute
fun addAccount(@RequestParam number: String): Account {
	return accountRepository.findAccount(number)
}
When a name is not explicitly specified, a default name is chosen based on the Object type, as explained in the javadoc for Conventions. You can always assign an explicit name by using the overloaded addAttribute method or through the name attribute on @ModelAttribute (for a return value).

You can also use @ModelAttribute as a method-level annotation on @RequestMapping methods, in which case the return value of the @RequestMapping method is interpreted as a model attribute. This is typically not required, as it is the default behavior in HTML controllers, unless the return value is a String that would otherwise be interpreted as a view name. @ModelAttribute can also customize the model attribute name, as the following example shows:

  • Java

  • Kotlin

@GetMapping("/accounts/{id}")
@ModelAttribute("myAccount")
public Account handle() {
	// ...
	return account;
}
@GetMapping("/accounts/{id}")
@ModelAttribute("myAccount")
fun handle(): Account {
	// ...
	return account
}