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Introduction
Whenever we talk about building web applications, 2 things that come to our mind are Spring MVC and Spring boot. These two are very important frameworks that are widely used by every developer. Spring MVC, is a framework that is focused on creating web applications using the Model-View-Controller design, enabling clear separation of concerns which enhances the manageability of code. On the other hand, Spring Boot simplifies the process of setting up and configuring Spring applications, which provides a faster and more efficient development environment.
In this article, we will discuss both of these details like when to use these frameworks, how they are different from each other, and examples.
Spring MVC
Spring MVC is a web framework built on the main Spring framework. It follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern, which separates an application into three main components:
1. Model: Represents the data & business logic of the application. It captures the state of the application & any operations that can be performed on the data.
2. View: Responsible for rendering the user interface. In a web application, views are typically HTML pages with embedded Java code (JSP) or templates (Thymeleaf).
3. Controller: Handles incoming HTTP requests, processes user input, & determines which view should be rendered in response. Controllers act as the bridge between the model & the view.
Let’s see a simple example of a Spring MVC controller:
@Controller
public class HelloController {
@GetMapping("/hello")
public String sayHello(Model model) {
model.addAttribute("message", "Hello, Spring MVC!");
return "hello";
}
}
In this example, the `@Controller` annotation marks the class as a Spring MVC controller. The `@GetMapping` annotation specifies that the `sayHello()` method should handle GET requests to the "/hello" URL. The method adds a "message" attribute to the model & returns the name of the view to render ("hello").
Spring MVC provides many important features for building web applications, like:
Flexible configuration options (XML, Java-based)
Support for various view technologies (JSP, Thymeleaf, Freemarker)
Form handling & validation
Exception handling
Integration with other Spring modules (Security, Data)
Spring Boot
Spring Boot is a framework that sits on top of Spring MVC & makes it even easier to create stand-alone, production-grade Spring applications. Spring Boot provides a streamlined approach to using the Spring framework and other necessary libraries, which enables you to start your projects quickly and with less hassle.
Let’s see a few of the important features Spring Boot offers :
1. Auto-configuration: Spring Boot can automatically configure your application based on the dependencies you have added to your project. This means you spend less time writing boilerplate configuration code & more time focusing on your application's business logic.
2. Standalone applications: Spring Boot allows you to create stand-alone Java applications that can be run directly from the command line without the need for an external web server.
3. Embedded server: Spring Boot includes an embedded server (such as Tomcat or Jetty), which means you don't need to deploy your application to an external server.
4. Starter dependencies: Spring Boot provides a set of starter dependencies that make it easy to add common functionality to your application, such as web services, security, or data access.
You can also consider our Spring Boot Course to give your career an edge over others.
Let’s discuss an example of a simple Spring Boot application:
@SpringBootApplication
public class MyApplication {
public static void main(String[] args) {
SpringApplication.run(MyApplication.class, args);
}
}
@RestController
public class HelloController {
@GetMapping("/hello")
public String sayHello() {
return "Hello, Spring Boot!";
}
}
In this example, the `@SpringBootApplication` annotation is used to enable auto-configuration & component scanning. The `main()` method uses `SpringApplication.run()` to launch the application. The `@RestController` annotation is a combination of `@Controller` & `@ResponseBody`, indicating that the `HelloController` will handle HTTP requests & return the response body directly (in this case, a simple string).
With just these few lines of code, you have a fully functional Spring Boot application that you can run from the command line.
Difference between Spring MVC and Spring Boot
Parameters
Spring MVC
Spring Boot
Configuration
Requires manual configuration of beans, dependencies, and other settings in XML or Java-based files.
Provides auto-configuration based on classpath dependencies, reducing the need for manual configuration.
Setup
Requires setting up the project structure, dependencies, and build configuration manually.
Provides a simplified project structure and build configuration with starter dependencies for faster setup.
Embedded Server
Requires deploying the application to an external web server like Tomcat or Jetty.
Includes an embedded server (Tomcat, Jetty, or Undertow), allowing the application to run as a standalone JAR.
Opinionated
Offers flexibility and control over configuration but requires more setup and boilerplate code.
Takes an opinionated approach, favoring convention over configuration, reducing setup effort.
Dependency Management
Requires manually managing dependencies and their versions using a build tool like Maven or Gradle.
Provides starter dependencies that manage common libraries and their compatible versions, simplifying management.
Deployment
Typically requires deploying the application as a WAR file to an external web server.
Allows creating standalone executable JAR files that can be run directly from the command line.
Modularity
Provides a modular architecture where you can choose the components you need for your application.
Builds on top of Spring MVC & includes additional features like auto-configuration & starter dependencies to simplify development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Spring MVC without Spring Boot?
Yes, you can use Spring MVC without Spring Boot. Spring MVC is a standalone web framework that can be used independently of Spring Boot. However, Spring Boot makes it easier to create Spring MVC applications by providing auto-configuration, starter dependencies, & embedded server capabilities.
When should I choose Spring MVC over Spring Boot?
You might choose Spring MVC over Spring Boot if you need more fine-grained control over your application's configuration or if you are working on an existing project that doesn't use Spring Boot. Spring MVC provides a flexible & modular architecture that allows you to pick & choose the components you need for your application.
Can I use Spring Boot features like auto-configuration with Spring MVC?
Yes, you can use Spring Boot features like auto-configuration with Spring MVC. In fact, Spring Boot is designed to work seamlessly with Spring MVC. You can create a Spring MVC application & add Spring Boot dependencies to take advantage of features like auto-configuration, starter dependencies, & embedded server capabilities.
Conclusion
In this article, we learned about Spring MVC & Spring Boot, two essential frameworks in the Spring ecosystem. We discussed the important features of each framework, their differences, & when to use them. We also saw the examples of each framework. Spring MVC is a powerful web framework that follows the Model-View-Controller architecture, providing a flexible & modular approach to building web applications. On the other hand, Spring Boot enhances Spring MVC by adding automatic setup features, essential starter packages, and built-in server options. This makes it easier to develop and launch independent, ready-for-production applications.
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