How to use name parameter of @Resource Annotation in Spring Autowiring

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Overview: Using the 'name' Attribute in @Resource

The standard Java @Resource annotation (from the javax.annotation or jakarta.annotation package) provides a clean way to perform dependency injection by name in the Spring Framework. By default, Spring looks for a bean matching the field or setter name. However, specifying the name attribute explicitly allows you to resolve any bean regardless of variable naming conventions.

In this guide, you will learn how to use the name attribute within @Resource to wire specific beans cleanly into your classes.

Understanding @Resource(name = "...")

Using the name parameter provides predictable, deterministic wiring behavior:

• Injection by Name: When the name attribute is provided, Spring evaluates the dependency strictly by bean identifier/name.
• Resolves Ambiguity: If multiple beans of the same type exist in your container, specifying name ensures exactly the right bean is injected without requiring @Qualifier.
• Decoupled Variable Names: Your field name no longer has to match the bean ID in your configuration.

Step-by-Step Usage

1. Declare the Target Bean: Define your bean in XML or using @Component("customBeanName").
2. Annotate Field or Setter: Place @Resource(name = "customBeanName") directly on the dependent field or setter method.
3. Initialize Application Context: Spring matches the explicit name with the registered bean and injects the dependency during initialization.

Recommended Next Videos from Ram N Java

• 👉 @Resource Annotation: Simplifying Autowiring in Spring | Spring - @Resource annotation
• 👉 @Autowired vs. @Resource: Explaining the Differences | Spring Tutorial | Spring Framework
• 👉 Applying @Resource Annotation for Setter-Based Injection | Spring Tutorial

---

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How to use name parameter of @Resource Annotation in Spring Autowiring

How to use name parameter of @Resource Annotation in Spring Autowiring

pom.xml

<project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
    xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0%20http://maven.apache.org/maven-v4_0_0.xsd">
    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
    <groupId>com.ram.core</groupId>
    <artifactId>SpringDemo</artifactId>
    <packaging>jar</packaging>
    <version>1.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
    <name>SpringDemo</name>
    <url>http://maven.apache.org</url>

    <properties>
        <spring.version>5.0.2.RELEASE</spring.version>
    </properties>

    <dependencies>
        <dependency>
            <groupId>junit</groupId>
            <artifactId>junit</artifactId>
            <version>3.8.1</version>
            <scope>test</scope>
        </dependency>

        <!-- Spring 5 dependencies -->
        <dependency>
            <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
            <artifactId>spring-core</artifactId>
            <version>${spring.version}</version>
        </dependency>

        <dependency>
            <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
            <artifactId>spring-context</artifactId>
            <version>${spring.version}</version>
        </dependency>
    </dependencies>
</project>

Address.java

package com.ram.model;

public class Address
{
    private String city;
    private String state;
    private String country;

    public Address(String city, String state, String country)
    {
        this.city = city;
        this.state = state;
        this.country = country;
    }

    @Override
    public String toString()
    {
        return "Address [city=" + city + ", state=" + state + ", country="
                + country + "]";
    }

}

Employee.java

package com.ram.model;

import javax.annotation.Resource;

public class Employee
{
    private String name;
   
    @Resource(name="chennaiAddress")
    private Address address;

    public Employee(String name)
    {
        System.out.println("Employee(String name) constructor "
                + "is called by the Spring container");
        this.name = name;
    }

    public void displayEmployeeDetails()
    {
        System.out.println(
                "Employee [name=" + name + ", address=" + address + "]");
    }

}

applicationContext.xml

<beans xmlns="http://www.springframework.org/schema/beans"
    xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
    xmlns:context="http://www.springframework.org/schema/context"
    xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.springframework.org/schema/beans
    http://www.springframework.org/schema/beans/spring-beans-4.3.xsd
    http://www.springframework.org/schema/context
    http://www.springframework.org/schema/context/spring-context-4.3.xsd">

    <context:annotation-config />
   
    <bean id="chennaiAddress" class="com.ram.model.Address" >
        <constructor-arg value="Chennai"></constructor-arg>
        <constructor-arg value="Tamil Nadu"></constructor-arg>
        <constructor-arg value="India"></constructor-arg>
    </bean>
   
    <bean id="bangaloreAddress" class="com.ram.model.Address" >
        <constructor-arg value="Bangalore"></constructor-arg>
        <constructor-arg value="Karnataka"></constructor-arg>
        <constructor-arg value="India"></constructor-arg>
    </bean>

    <bean id="employee" class="com.ram.model.Employee">
        <constructor-arg value="Peter"></constructor-arg>
    </bean>

</beans>

App.java

package com.ram.core;

import org.springframework.context.ApplicationContext;
import org.springframework.context.support.ClassPathXmlApplicationContext;

import com.ram.model.Employee;

public class App
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        ApplicationContext context = new ClassPathXmlApplicationContext(
                "applicationContext.xml");

        System.out.println("---------------------------------------");

        Employee employee = (Employee) context.getBean("employee");
        System.out.println(
                "Got employee object from the ApplicationContext[Spring Container]");
       
        employee.displayEmployeeDetails();
    }

}

Output

Aug 23, 2018 9:55:39 AM org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext prepareRefresh
INFO: Refreshing org.springframework.context.support.ClassPathXmlApplicationContext@5a2e4553: startup date [Thu Aug 23 09:55:39 IST 2018]; root of context hierarchy
Aug 23, 2018 9:55:39 AM org.springframework.beans.factory.xml.XmlBeanDefinitionReader loadBeanDefinitions
INFO: Loading XML bean definitions from class path resource [applicationContext.xml]
Employee(String name) constructor is called by the Spring container
---------------------------------------
Got employee object from the ApplicationContext[Spring Container]
Employee [name=Peter, address=Address [city=Chennai, state=Tamil Nadu, country=India]]

Click the below link to download the code:
https://sites.google.com/site/ramj2eev2/java_basics/SpringDemo_Resource_annotation_name_attribute.zip?attredirects=0&d=1

Github Link:
https://github.com/ramram43210/javaee/tree/master/Spring_2018/SpringDemo_Resource_annotation_name_attribute

Bitbucket Link:
https://bitbucket.org/ramram43210/spring/src/02e04aa1b68a77d4f5a01ebf111e80370bd99ca8/Spring_2018/SpringDemo_Resource_annotation_name_attribute/?at=master

See also:

All JavaEE Videos Playlist

All JavaEE Videos

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Apply @Resource Annotation in setter method in Spring Autowiring | Spring - @Resource annotation

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Overview: Setter-Based Injection with @Resource

The standard Java @Resource annotation (part of the JSR-250 specification) provides a clean, standardized approach to dependency injection in the Spring Framework. While commonly used for field injection, applying @Resource on setter methods enables setter-based dependency injection, promoting proper encapsulation, easier testing, and flexibility during bean configuration.

In this guide, you will learn how to configure and use @Resource on setter methods to inject dependencies cleanly into your Spring beans.

Understanding Setter-Based @Resource Injection

Using @Resource at the setter method level follows intuitive resolution rules:

• Injection by Name by Default: When placed on a setter (such as setAddress(Address address)), Spring derives the default bean name from the property name (e.g., address).
• Explicit Name Matching: You can explicitly specify the target bean name using @Resource(name = "customBeanName") directly on the setter method.
• Fallback to Type: If no bean is found matching the derived name and no explicit name is specified, Spring resolves the dependency by type.
• Encapsulation & Reusability: Setter injection keeps member variables private while still allowing dependencies to be provided or mocked during unit tests.

Step-by-Step Implementation

1. Define the Dependency Bean: Create the component to be injected and register it with the Spring container.
2. Add Setter Method with @Resource: Create a standard setter method in your dependent class and annotate it with @Resource:
   @Resource
public void setService(OrderService service) { this.service = service; }
3. Initialize the Spring ApplicationContext: When the container starts, Spring invokes the annotated setter method and injects the matching bean.

Recommended Next Videos from Ram N Java

• 👉 Using 'name' Parameter in @Resource Annotation | Spring Autowiring | Spring Tutorial
• 👉 @Resource Annotation: Simplifying Autowiring in Spring | Spring - @Resource annotation
• 👉 @Autowired vs. @Resource: Explaining the Differences | Spring Tutorial | Spring Framework

---

Click here to watch on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hHqD12F7A0&list=UUhwKlOVR041tngjerWxVccw

Click the below Image to Enlarge:

Apply @Resource Annotation in setter method in Spring Autowiring | Spring - @Resource annotation

Apply @Resource Annotation in setter method in Spring Autowiring | Spring - @Resource annotation

Apply @Resource Annotation in setter method in Spring Autowiring | Spring - @Resource annotation

pom.xml

<project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
    xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0%20http://maven.apache.org/maven-v4_0_0.xsd">
    <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
    <groupId>com.ram.core</groupId>
    <artifactId>SpringDemo</artifactId>
    <packaging>jar</packaging>
    <version>1.0-SNAPSHOT</version>
    <name>SpringDemo</name>
    <url>http://maven.apache.org</url>

    <properties>
        <spring.version>5.0.2.RELEASE</spring.version>
    </properties>

    <dependencies>
        <dependency>
            <groupId>junit</groupId>
            <artifactId>junit</artifactId>
            <version>3.8.1</version>
            <scope>test</scope>
        </dependency>

        <!-- Spring 5 dependencies -->
        <dependency>
            <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
            <artifactId>spring-core</artifactId>
            <version>${spring.version}</version>
        </dependency>

        <dependency>
            <groupId>org.springframework</groupId>
            <artifactId>spring-context</artifactId>
            <version>${spring.version}</version>
        </dependency>
    </dependencies>
</project>

Address.java

package com.ram.model;

public class Address
{
    private String city;
    private String state;
    private String country;

    public Address(String city, String state, String country)
    {
        this.city = city;
        this.state = state;
        this.country = country;
    }

    @Override
    public String toString()
    {
        return "Address [city=" + city + ", state=" + state + ", country="
                + country + "]";
    }

}

Employee.java

package com.ram.model;

import javax.annotation.Resource;

public class Employee
{
    private String name;
    private Address address;

    public Employee(String name)
    {
        System.out.println("Employee(String name) constructor "
                + "is called by the Spring container");
        this.name = name;
    }

    @Resource
    public void setAddress(Address address)
    {
        this.address = address;
    }

    public void displayEmployeeDetails()
    {
        System.out.println(
                "Employee [name=" + name + ", address=" + address + "]");
    }

}

applicationContext.xml

<beans xmlns="http://www.springframework.org/schema/beans"
    xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
    xmlns:context="http://www.springframework.org/schema/context"
    xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.springframework.org/schema/beans
    http://www.springframework.org/schema/beans/spring-beans-4.3.xsd
    http://www.springframework.org/schema/context
    http://www.springframework.org/schema/context/spring-context-4.3.xsd">

    <context:annotation-config />
   
    <bean id="address" class="com.ram.model.Address" >
        <constructor-arg value="Chennai"></constructor-arg>
        <constructor-arg value="Tamil Nadu"></constructor-arg>
        <constructor-arg value="India"></constructor-arg>
    </bean>

    <bean id="employee" class="com.ram.model.Employee">
        <constructor-arg value="Peter"></constructor-arg>
    </bean>

</beans>

App.java

package com.ram.core;

import org.springframework.context.ApplicationContext;
import org.springframework.context.support.ClassPathXmlApplicationContext;

import com.ram.model.Employee;

public class App
{
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        ApplicationContext context = new ClassPathXmlApplicationContext(
                "applicationContext.xml");

        System.out.println("---------------------------------------");

        Employee employee = (Employee) context.getBean("employee");
        System.out.println(
                "Got employee object from the ApplicationContext[Spring Container]");
       
        employee.displayEmployeeDetails();
    }

}

Output

Aug 22, 2018 10:00:33 AM org.springframework.context.support.AbstractApplicationContext prepareRefresh
INFO: Refreshing org.springframework.context.support.ClassPathXmlApplicationContext@5a2e4553: startup date [Wed Aug 22 10:00:33 IST 2018]; root of context hierarchy
Aug 22, 2018 10:00:34 AM org.springframework.beans.factory.xml.XmlBeanDefinitionReader loadBeanDefinitions
INFO: Loading XML bean definitions from class path resource [applicationContext.xml]
Employee(String name) constructor is called by the Spring container
---------------------------------------
Got employee object from the ApplicationContext[Spring Container]
Employee [name=Peter, address=Address [city=Chennai, state=Tamil Nadu, country=India]]

Click the below link to download the code:
https://sites.google.com/site/ramj2eev2/java_basics/SpringDemo_Resource_annotation_setter.zip?attredirects=0&d=1

Github Link:
https://github.com/ramram43210/javaee/tree/master/Spring_2018/SpringDemo_Resource_annotation_setter

Bitbucket Link:
https://bitbucket.org/ramram43210/spring/src/02e04aa1b68a77d4f5a01ebf111e80370bd99ca8/Spring_2018/SpringDemo_Resource_annotation_setter/?at=master

See also:

All JavaEE Videos Playlist

All JavaEE Videos

All JAVA EE Links

Spring Tutorial

Servlets Tutorial

All Design Patterns Links

JDBC Tutorial

Java Collection Framework Tutorial

JAVA Tutorial

Kids Tutorial

Cooking Tutorial