Spring and Spring Boot are both popular tools for developers, but what sets them apart? Essentially, Spring Boot is an extension of the Spring Framework, designed to streamline and accelerate Spring-based developments. The primary advantage of Spring Boot lies in its ability to significantly cut down the time and effort required to develop an application.
In this article, we will delve deeper into the differences between Spring and Spring Boot. Let's get started.
Understanding Spring
Spring is a lightweight, open-source framework that supports Java EE 7 developers in creating robust, scalable, and straightforward enterprise applications. The framework's main aim is to offer varied ways to manage business objects. Compared to Java frameworks and APIs like JDBC, Java Servlet, and JSP, Spring has simplified web app development.
Spring incorporates innovative techniques such as AOP (Aspect-Oriented Programming), DI (Dependency Injection), and POJO (Plain Old Java Object) to develop various enterprise applications.
Essentially, the Spring framework can be viewed as a compilation of sub-frameworks or layers, such as Spring AOP, Spring ORM, Spring Web MVC, and Spring Web Flow. These modules can be used independently or combined to enhance the functionalities of web applications.
Getting to Know Spring Boot
Built atop the Spring framework, Spring Boot inherits all the features of Spring and offers a more user-friendly experience.
Spring Boot's architecture is based on microservices, making it especially handy for creating production-ready applications in less time than the Spring framework. This is primarily due to Spring Boot's auto-configuration feature, which requires only appropriate configuration to utilize any functionality.
Spring Boot proves particularly useful in the development of REST APIs.
Spring vs. Spring Boot: The Differences
Now, let's discuss the key differences between Spring and Spring Boot.
Parameters
Spring
Spring Boot
Basics
A lightweight, open-source framework primarily used for enterprise application development.
A framework built on top of Spring, combining all of Spring's features with additional functionalities, mainly used in REST API development.
Key Feature
Dependency injection is a central feature of this framework.
Autoconfiguration is a standout feature of this framework.
Application Development
Primarily aids in creating loosely coupled applications.
Primarily aids in creating standalone applications.
Running the Framework
Explicit server setup is required to run a Spring application.
Spring Boot provides embedded servers, such as Jetty and Tomcat.
Deployment Descriptor
A deployment descriptor is required to run a Spring application.
No deployment descriptor is needed for running Spring Boot.
Code Volume
Creating a Spring application requires extensive coding.
One of Spring Boot's major advantages is the reduced volume of code.
In-Memory Database Support
Does not support any in-memory databases.
Spring Boot supports in-memory databases, like H2.
What is the main difference between Spring and Spring Boot?
Spring is a lightweight, open-source framework used for developing enterprise apps, while Spring Boot is built on top of Spring, providing all its features and adding more functionalities, mainly used in REST API development.
What is a key feature of Spring?
Dependency injection is the most crucial feature of Spring.
What is a key feature of Spring Boot?
Autoconfiguration is the most crucial feature of Spring Boot.
What type of apps does Spring help create?
Spring mainly helps in creating loosely coupled apps.
What type of apps does Spring Boot help create?
Spring Boot mainly helps in creating stand-alone apps.