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

Context Configuration with Context Initializers

To configure an ApplicationContext for your tests by using context initializers, annotate your test class with @ContextConfiguration and configure the initializers attribute with an array that contains references to classes that implement ApplicationContextInitializer. The declared context initializers are then used to initialize the ConfigurableApplicationContext that is loaded for your tests. Note that the concrete ConfigurableApplicationContext type supported by each declared initializer must be compatible with the type of ApplicationContext created by the SmartContextLoader in use (typically a GenericApplicationContext). Furthermore, the order in which the initializers are invoked depends on whether they implement Spring’s Ordered interface or are annotated with Spring’s @Order annotation or the standard @Priority annotation. The following example shows how to use initializers:

Java
Kotlin

@ExtendWith(SpringExtension.class)
// ApplicationContext will be loaded from TestConfig
// and initialized by TestAppCtxInitializer
@ContextConfiguration(
	classes = TestConfig.class,
	initializers = TestAppCtxInitializer.class) (1)
class MyTest {
	// class body...
}

1	Specifying configuration by using a configuration class and an initializer.

@ExtendWith(SpringExtension::class)
// ApplicationContext will be loaded from TestConfig
// and initialized by TestAppCtxInitializer
@ContextConfiguration(
		classes = [TestConfig::class],
		initializers = [TestAppCtxInitializer::class]) (1)
class MyTest {
	// class body...
}

1	Specifying configuration by using a configuration class and an initializer.

You can also omit the declaration of XML configuration files, Groovy scripts, or component classes in @ContextConfiguration entirely and instead declare only ApplicationContextInitializer classes, which are then responsible for registering beans in the context — for example, by programmatically loading bean definitions from XML files or configuration classes. The following example shows how to do so:

Java
Kotlin

@ExtendWith(SpringExtension.class)
// ApplicationContext will be initialized by EntireAppInitializer
// which presumably registers beans in the context
@ContextConfiguration(initializers = EntireAppInitializer.class) (1)
class MyTest {
	// class body...
}

1	Specifying configuration by using only an initializer.

@ExtendWith(SpringExtension::class)
// ApplicationContext will be initialized by EntireAppInitializer
// which presumably registers beans in the context
@ContextConfiguration(initializers = [EntireAppInitializer::class]) (1)
class MyTest {
	// class body...
}

1	Specifying configuration by using only an initializer.