How do I get a property value from an ApplicationContext object? (not using an annotation)

Question

If I have:

@Autowired private ApplicationContext ctx;

I can get beans and resources by using one of the the getBean methods. However, I can't figure out how to get property values.

Obviously, I can create a new bean which has an @Value property like:

private @Value("${someProp}") String somePropValue;

What method do I call on the ApplicationContext object to get that value without autowiring a bean?

I usually use the @Value, but there is a situation where the SPeL expression needs to be dynamic, so I can't just use an annotation.

(YourBeanType)ctx.getBean("beanId"); – Todd Murray May 30 '12 at 19:39 — Todd Murray, May 30 '12 at 19:39

Italo Borssatto · Answer 1 · 2017-09-11T11:31:23.403

66

In the case where SPeL expression needs to be dynamic, get the property value manually:

somePropValue = ctx.getEnvironment().getProperty("someProp");

edited Sep 11 '17 at 11:31

answered Apr 19 '14 at 05:06

Italo Borssatto

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Using Environment in runtime (as apposed to startup only) is usualy a very bad idea as it goes through JNDI and other locations looking for the value, which is expensive. – kaqqao Sep 04 '15 at 23:50

Asa · Answer 2 · 2015-03-07T22:15:38.657

19

If you are stuck on Spring pre 3.1, you can use

somePropValue = ctx.getBeanFactory().resolveEmbeddedValue("${someProp}");

edited Mar 07 '15 at 22:15

answered Mar 07 '15 at 22:10

Asa

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This is the answer that works for me with Spring 4.3.3. Only a context is needed, not a bean value placeholder. – Wheezil Jul 12 '19 at 13:57

Sean Patrick Floyd · Answer 3 · 2013-09-25T06:03:08.997

18

Assuming that the ${someProp} property comes from a PropertyPlaceHolderConfigurer, that makes things difficult. The PropertyPlaceholderConfigurer is a BeanFactoryPostProcessor and as such only available at container startup time. So the properties are not available to a bean at runtime.

A solution would be to create some sort of a value holder bean that you initialize with the property / properties you need.

@Component
public class PropertyHolder{

    @Value("${props.foo}") private String foo;
    @Value("${props.bar}") private String bar;

    // + getter methods
}

Now inject this PropertyHolder wherever you need the properties and access the properties through the getter methods

edited Sep 25 '13 at 06:03

answered May 30 '12 at 19:56

Sean Patrick Floyd

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An example would be very useful here. – Ben Sep 24 '13 at 21:25
@Webnet ok, added a small example – Sean Patrick Floyd Sep 25 '13 at 06:03
Doesn't this require that `PropertyHolder` is a managed bean? I think @HappyEngineer was looking for a solution that isn't a managed bean (as am I). – Ben Sep 25 '13 at 11:46
2

@Webnet I understand, but AFAIK that's not possible in Spring (at least not with the PropertyPlaceholderConfigurer mechanism) – Sean Patrick Floyd Sep 25 '13 at 15:19
The resolveEmbeddedValue() answer works for me with Spring 4.3.3. Only a context is needed, not a bean value placeholder. – Wheezil Jul 12 '19 at 13:58
@Wheezil sure. the downside is that this makes the application aware of the container, which is considered an architectural smell. But if it works for you, go for it – Sean Patrick Floyd Jul 12 '19 at 16:44
@SeanPatrickFloyd agreed... my specific case is for unit testing where I can get away with being a little sloppy. – Wheezil Jul 16 '19 at 20:30

How do I get a property value from an ApplicationContext object? (not using an annotation)

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