what's difference between Controller and Handler in Spring MVC?





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The documentation of Spring MVC sometimes says about "handlers" or "request handlers". For instance, http://docs.spring.io/autorepo/docs/spring/4.0.4.RELEASE/javadoc-api/org/springframework/web/servlet/handler/SimpleUrlHandlerMapping.html says:




Implementation of the HandlerMapping interface to map from URLs to request handler beans




And sometimes it says about controllers. For instance, there is an interface called org.springframework.web.servlet.mvc.Controller ( http://docs.spring.io/spring-framework/docs/2.5.x/api/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/Controller.html ).



My question is: are Controllers and Handlers the same?










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    The documentation of Spring MVC sometimes says about "handlers" or "request handlers". For instance, http://docs.spring.io/autorepo/docs/spring/4.0.4.RELEASE/javadoc-api/org/springframework/web/servlet/handler/SimpleUrlHandlerMapping.html says:




    Implementation of the HandlerMapping interface to map from URLs to request handler beans




    And sometimes it says about controllers. For instance, there is an interface called org.springframework.web.servlet.mvc.Controller ( http://docs.spring.io/spring-framework/docs/2.5.x/api/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/Controller.html ).



    My question is: are Controllers and Handlers the same?










    share|improve this question

























      3












      3








      3


      2






      The documentation of Spring MVC sometimes says about "handlers" or "request handlers". For instance, http://docs.spring.io/autorepo/docs/spring/4.0.4.RELEASE/javadoc-api/org/springframework/web/servlet/handler/SimpleUrlHandlerMapping.html says:




      Implementation of the HandlerMapping interface to map from URLs to request handler beans




      And sometimes it says about controllers. For instance, there is an interface called org.springframework.web.servlet.mvc.Controller ( http://docs.spring.io/spring-framework/docs/2.5.x/api/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/Controller.html ).



      My question is: are Controllers and Handlers the same?










      share|improve this question














      The documentation of Spring MVC sometimes says about "handlers" or "request handlers". For instance, http://docs.spring.io/autorepo/docs/spring/4.0.4.RELEASE/javadoc-api/org/springframework/web/servlet/handler/SimpleUrlHandlerMapping.html says:




      Implementation of the HandlerMapping interface to map from URLs to request handler beans




      And sometimes it says about controllers. For instance, there is an interface called org.springframework.web.servlet.mvc.Controller ( http://docs.spring.io/spring-framework/docs/2.5.x/api/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/Controller.html ).



      My question is: are Controllers and Handlers the same?







      java spring spring-mvc






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      asked May 11 '15 at 10:43









      user983447user983447

      57611024




      57611024
























          3 Answers
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          Generally speaking, a Controller is Handler, but a Handler doesn't have to be a Controller.



          For example, HttpRequestHandler, WebRequestHandler, MessageHandler are all handlers which can work with the DispatcherServlet. ( (@)Controller is a handler for executing a web request and returning a view.)



          Shortly, Handler is just a term, it is neither a class nor interface. And it is responsible for executing the Mapping.






          share|improve this answer

































            3














            A Controller is a specific type of Handler but not all Handlers are Controllers.



            To execute a type of Handler there is a HandlerAdapter and for each type of Handler there is a different HandlerAdapter. You have Controller and @Controller, HttpRequestHandler and also a plain Servlet can be a Handler. Or if you have some custom things you can even implement your own.






            share|improve this answer































              -1














              Handler is a inclusive i.e. covering all the services details.
              Controller is an an exclusive implementation.



              In Spring we have the following different types of handlers:





              • HandlerMapping: The HandlerMapping strategy is used to map the HTTP client request to some handler controller(or controllers) and/or method. This is done based on the request URL and the HTTP method, but may also include the request parameters, request headers, or other custom factors.
                For example: DefaultAnnotationHandlerMapping, SimpleUrlHandlerMapping, BeanNameUrlHandlerMapping.


              • HandlerAdapter: The DispatcherServlet uses a HandlerAdapter to invoke a method. Which is decouples the DispatcherServlet from controller implementations classes.
                For example: AnnotationMethodHandlerAdapter, HttpRequestHandlerAdapter, RequestMappingHandlerAdapter, SimpleControllerHandlerAdapter, SimpleServletHandlerAdapter






              share|improve this answer


























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                3 Answers
                3






                active

                oldest

                votes








                3 Answers
                3






                active

                oldest

                votes









                active

                oldest

                votes






                active

                oldest

                votes









                11














                Generally speaking, a Controller is Handler, but a Handler doesn't have to be a Controller.



                For example, HttpRequestHandler, WebRequestHandler, MessageHandler are all handlers which can work with the DispatcherServlet. ( (@)Controller is a handler for executing a web request and returning a view.)



                Shortly, Handler is just a term, it is neither a class nor interface. And it is responsible for executing the Mapping.






                share|improve this answer






























                  11














                  Generally speaking, a Controller is Handler, but a Handler doesn't have to be a Controller.



                  For example, HttpRequestHandler, WebRequestHandler, MessageHandler are all handlers which can work with the DispatcherServlet. ( (@)Controller is a handler for executing a web request and returning a view.)



                  Shortly, Handler is just a term, it is neither a class nor interface. And it is responsible for executing the Mapping.






                  share|improve this answer




























                    11












                    11








                    11







                    Generally speaking, a Controller is Handler, but a Handler doesn't have to be a Controller.



                    For example, HttpRequestHandler, WebRequestHandler, MessageHandler are all handlers which can work with the DispatcherServlet. ( (@)Controller is a handler for executing a web request and returning a view.)



                    Shortly, Handler is just a term, it is neither a class nor interface. And it is responsible for executing the Mapping.






                    share|improve this answer















                    Generally speaking, a Controller is Handler, but a Handler doesn't have to be a Controller.



                    For example, HttpRequestHandler, WebRequestHandler, MessageHandler are all handlers which can work with the DispatcherServlet. ( (@)Controller is a handler for executing a web request and returning a view.)



                    Shortly, Handler is just a term, it is neither a class nor interface. And it is responsible for executing the Mapping.







                    share|improve this answer














                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    edited Nov 22 '18 at 10:10









                    Marcin Kulik

                    36110




                    36110










                    answered May 11 '15 at 10:56









                    MChakerMChaker

                    1,8791233




                    1,8791233

























                        3














                        A Controller is a specific type of Handler but not all Handlers are Controllers.



                        To execute a type of Handler there is a HandlerAdapter and for each type of Handler there is a different HandlerAdapter. You have Controller and @Controller, HttpRequestHandler and also a plain Servlet can be a Handler. Or if you have some custom things you can even implement your own.






                        share|improve this answer




























                          3














                          A Controller is a specific type of Handler but not all Handlers are Controllers.



                          To execute a type of Handler there is a HandlerAdapter and for each type of Handler there is a different HandlerAdapter. You have Controller and @Controller, HttpRequestHandler and also a plain Servlet can be a Handler. Or if you have some custom things you can even implement your own.






                          share|improve this answer


























                            3












                            3








                            3







                            A Controller is a specific type of Handler but not all Handlers are Controllers.



                            To execute a type of Handler there is a HandlerAdapter and for each type of Handler there is a different HandlerAdapter. You have Controller and @Controller, HttpRequestHandler and also a plain Servlet can be a Handler. Or if you have some custom things you can even implement your own.






                            share|improve this answer













                            A Controller is a specific type of Handler but not all Handlers are Controllers.



                            To execute a type of Handler there is a HandlerAdapter and for each type of Handler there is a different HandlerAdapter. You have Controller and @Controller, HttpRequestHandler and also a plain Servlet can be a Handler. Or if you have some custom things you can even implement your own.







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered May 11 '15 at 10:57









                            M. DeinumM. Deinum

                            71.6k14145151




                            71.6k14145151























                                -1














                                Handler is a inclusive i.e. covering all the services details.
                                Controller is an an exclusive implementation.



                                In Spring we have the following different types of handlers:





                                • HandlerMapping: The HandlerMapping strategy is used to map the HTTP client request to some handler controller(or controllers) and/or method. This is done based on the request URL and the HTTP method, but may also include the request parameters, request headers, or other custom factors.
                                  For example: DefaultAnnotationHandlerMapping, SimpleUrlHandlerMapping, BeanNameUrlHandlerMapping.


                                • HandlerAdapter: The DispatcherServlet uses a HandlerAdapter to invoke a method. Which is decouples the DispatcherServlet from controller implementations classes.
                                  For example: AnnotationMethodHandlerAdapter, HttpRequestHandlerAdapter, RequestMappingHandlerAdapter, SimpleControllerHandlerAdapter, SimpleServletHandlerAdapter






                                share|improve this answer






























                                  -1














                                  Handler is a inclusive i.e. covering all the services details.
                                  Controller is an an exclusive implementation.



                                  In Spring we have the following different types of handlers:





                                  • HandlerMapping: The HandlerMapping strategy is used to map the HTTP client request to some handler controller(or controllers) and/or method. This is done based on the request URL and the HTTP method, but may also include the request parameters, request headers, or other custom factors.
                                    For example: DefaultAnnotationHandlerMapping, SimpleUrlHandlerMapping, BeanNameUrlHandlerMapping.


                                  • HandlerAdapter: The DispatcherServlet uses a HandlerAdapter to invoke a method. Which is decouples the DispatcherServlet from controller implementations classes.
                                    For example: AnnotationMethodHandlerAdapter, HttpRequestHandlerAdapter, RequestMappingHandlerAdapter, SimpleControllerHandlerAdapter, SimpleServletHandlerAdapter






                                  share|improve this answer




























                                    -1












                                    -1








                                    -1







                                    Handler is a inclusive i.e. covering all the services details.
                                    Controller is an an exclusive implementation.



                                    In Spring we have the following different types of handlers:





                                    • HandlerMapping: The HandlerMapping strategy is used to map the HTTP client request to some handler controller(or controllers) and/or method. This is done based on the request URL and the HTTP method, but may also include the request parameters, request headers, or other custom factors.
                                      For example: DefaultAnnotationHandlerMapping, SimpleUrlHandlerMapping, BeanNameUrlHandlerMapping.


                                    • HandlerAdapter: The DispatcherServlet uses a HandlerAdapter to invoke a method. Which is decouples the DispatcherServlet from controller implementations classes.
                                      For example: AnnotationMethodHandlerAdapter, HttpRequestHandlerAdapter, RequestMappingHandlerAdapter, SimpleControllerHandlerAdapter, SimpleServletHandlerAdapter






                                    share|improve this answer















                                    Handler is a inclusive i.e. covering all the services details.
                                    Controller is an an exclusive implementation.



                                    In Spring we have the following different types of handlers:





                                    • HandlerMapping: The HandlerMapping strategy is used to map the HTTP client request to some handler controller(or controllers) and/or method. This is done based on the request URL and the HTTP method, but may also include the request parameters, request headers, or other custom factors.
                                      For example: DefaultAnnotationHandlerMapping, SimpleUrlHandlerMapping, BeanNameUrlHandlerMapping.


                                    • HandlerAdapter: The DispatcherServlet uses a HandlerAdapter to invoke a method. Which is decouples the DispatcherServlet from controller implementations classes.
                                      For example: AnnotationMethodHandlerAdapter, HttpRequestHandlerAdapter, RequestMappingHandlerAdapter, SimpleControllerHandlerAdapter, SimpleServletHandlerAdapter







                                    share|improve this answer














                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer








                                    edited May 29 '18 at 3:31

























                                    answered Jun 2 '16 at 2:09









                                    PremrajPremraj

                                    32.6k14162123




                                    32.6k14162123






























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