This version is still in development and is not considered stable yet. For the latest stable version, please use Spring Framework 6.0.26!

Using Generics as Autowiring Qualifiers

In addition to the @Qualifier annotation, you can use Java generic types as an implicit form of qualification. For example, suppose you have the following configuration:

  • Java

  • Kotlin

@Configuration
public class MyConfiguration {

	@Bean
	public StringStore stringStore() {
		return new StringStore();
	}

	@Bean
	public IntegerStore integerStore() {
		return new IntegerStore();
	}
}
@Configuration
class MyConfiguration {

	@Bean
	fun stringStore() = StringStore()

	@Bean
	fun integerStore() = IntegerStore()
}

Assuming that the preceding beans implement a generic interface, (that is, Store<String> and Store<Integer>), you can @Autowire the Store interface and the generic is used as a qualifier, as the following example shows:

  • Java

  • Kotlin

@Autowired
private Store<String> s1; // <String> qualifier, injects the stringStore bean

@Autowired
private Store<Integer> s2; // <Integer> qualifier, injects the integerStore bean
@Autowired
private lateinit var s1: Store<String> // <String> qualifier, injects the stringStore bean

@Autowired
private lateinit var s2: Store<Integer> // <Integer> qualifier, injects the integerStore bean

Generic qualifiers also apply when autowiring lists, Map instances and arrays. The following example autowires a generic List:

  • Java

  • Kotlin

// Inject all Store beans as long as they have an <Integer> generic
// Store<String> beans will not appear in this list
@Autowired
private List<Store<Integer>> s;
// Inject all Store beans as long as they have an <Integer> generic
// Store<String> beans will not appear in this list
@Autowired
private lateinit var s: List<Store<Integer>>