@ConditionalOnClass

Reference: Spring Docs - @ConditionalOnClass

What is @ConditionalOnClass?

• Registers a Bean if a specific Class file exists

• Why use it!

  • The class where this annotation is written does not have control over the dependency

How to Use @ConditionalOnClass

1. Add the annotation at the Class Level so that the configuration Class itself can be activated/deactivated based on the existence of a specific class

2. Add the annotation at the Method Level to specify conditions under which the Bean containing that method exists on the Classpath

@ConditionalOnClass Attributes

@Target({ ElementType.TYPE, ElementType.METHOD })
@Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME)
@Documented
@Conditional(OnClassCondition.class)
public @interface ConditionalOnClass {

    /**
     * The classes that must be present. Since this annotation is parsed by loading class
     * bytecode, it is safe to specify classes here that may ultimately not be on the
     * classpath, only if this annotation is directly on the affected component and
     * <b>not</b> if this annotation is used as a composed, meta-annotation. In order to
     * use this annotation as a meta-annotation, only use the {@link #name} attribute.
     * @return the classes that must be present
     */
    Class<?>[] value() default {};

    /**
     * The classes names that must be present.
     * @return the class names that must be present.
     */
    String[] name() default {};

}

Optional Elements

• value - Class<?>[]

  • Specifies the classes that must exist

• name - String[]

  • Specifies the class names that must exist