Top 10 Spring Boot Annotations To Use In 2025

Spring Boot continues to dominate the Java ecosystem in 2025, offering developers a streamlined way to build robust, scalable, and production-ready applications. One of the key features that make Spring Boot so powerful is its extensive use of annotations. These annotations simplify development by reducing boilerplate code, improving readability, and enabling faster application configuration.

In this blog, we’ll dive into the top 10 Spring Boot annotations you should be using in 2025. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned developer, this guide will help you understand what these annotations do, when to use them, and how to implement them effectively. Let’s get started!

Why Spring Boot Annotations Are Essential in 2025

Spring Boot annotations are the backbone of modern Java development. They allow developers to:

• Reduce boilerplate code: Annotations automate repetitive tasks, saving time and effort.
• Improve readability: Code becomes cleaner and easier to understand.
• Enable faster configuration: Annotations simplify dependency injection, component scanning, and more.
• Enhance scalability: Annotations help build modular and maintainable applications.

With the rise of microservices and cloud-native applications in 2025, mastering Spring Boot annotations is more important than ever. Let’s explore the top 10 annotations you need to know. [Spring Boot Annotations]

Top 10 Spring Boot Annotations to Use in 2025

1. @SpringBootApplication

What it does:

• This annotation is the entry point of any Spring Boot application. It combines three annotations: @Configuration, @EnableAutoConfiguration, and @ComponentScan.

When to use it:

• Use it in your main application class to bootstrap your Spring Boot application.

Code Example:

@SpringBootApplication  
public class MyApp {  
    public static void main(String[] args) {  
        SpringApplication.run(MyApp.class, args);  
    }  
}  

Best Practices:

• Always place this annotation in the root package of your application.
• Avoid using it in multiple classes to prevent confusion.
• Avoid adding multiple @ComponentScan manually unless necessary.

2. @RestController

What it does:

• Combines @Controller and @ResponseBody to create RESTful web services.

When to use it:

• Use it when building REST APIs to handle HTTP requests and return JSON/XML responses.

Code Example:

@RestController
@RequestMapping("/api")
public class MyController {
    @GetMapping("/hello")
    public String sayHello() {
        return "Hello, Spring Boot!";
    }
}

Best Practices:

• Use meaningful endpoint names.
• Keep your controller methods concise and focused.
• Use meaningful request mappings for better API organization.

3. @Autowired

What it does:

• Automatically injects dependencies into your Spring beans.

When to use it:

• Use it to inject service or repository beans into your controllers or other services.

Code Example:

@Service  
public class MyService {  
    public String getMessage() {  
        return "Hello from Service!";  
    }  
}  

@RestController  
public class MyController {  
    @Autowired  
    private MyService myService;  

    @GetMapping("/message")  
    public String getMessage() {  
        return myService.getMessage();  
    }  
}  

Best Practices:

• Avoid using @Autowired on fields; prefer constructor injection for better testability.
• Use @Qualifier if multiple beans of the same type exist.

4. @Component

What it does:

• Marks a class as a Spring bean, making it eligible for dependency injection.

When to use it:

• Use it for generic beans that don’t fall under @Service, @Repository, or @Controller.

Code Example:

@Component  
public class MyComponent {  
    public String greet() {  
        return "Hello from Component!";  
    }  
}  

Best Practices:

• Use more specific annotations like @Service or @Repository when applicable.
• Use @Component when a more specific stereotype annotation doesn’t apply.

5. @Repository

What it does:

• Marks a class as a repository, typically used for database operations.

When to use it:

• Use @Repository for database-related operations.
• Use it in DAO (Data Access Object) classes.

Code Example:

@Repository
public interface UserRepository extends JpaRepository<User, Long> {
}

Best Practices:

• Leverage Spring Data JPA for simplified database interactions.
• Handle exceptions gracefully within repositories.

Also Read: CRUD Operations Using Spring Boot With MySQL 2025

6. @Service

What It Does:

• Indicates that a class is a service component in the business layer.

When to Use It:

• Use @Service for business logic and service-related functions.

Code Example:

@Service
public class MyService {
    public String getMessage() {
        return "Spring Boot Service Layer";
    }
}

Best Practices:

• Ensure services are stateless whenever possible.
• Inject services using @Autowired for better dependency management.

7. @Value

What it does: Injects values from properties files or environment variables into your beans.

When to use it: Use it to externalize configuration values.

Code Example:

@Service  
public class MyService {  
    @Value("${app.name}")  
    private String appName;  

    public String getAppName() {  
        return appName;  
    }  
}  

Best Practices:

• Use default values to avoid runtime errors.
• Use in combination with @ConfigurationProperties for more complex configurations.

8. @Transactional

What It Does:

• Manages transactions automatically.

When to Use It:

• Use @Transactional for methods that require database transactions.

Code Example:

@Service
public class PaymentService {
    @Transactional
    public void processPayment() {
        // Database operations
    }
}

Best Practices:

• Apply at the service layer.
• Be cautious with readOnly = true for read-only operations.

9. @Bean

What it does:

• Defines a bean to be managed by the Spring container.

When to use it:

• Use it in configuration classes to create custom beans.

Code Example:

@Configuration  
public class AppConfig {  
    @Bean  
    public MyBean myBean() {  
        return new MyBean();  
    }  
}  

Best Practices:

• Use descriptive bean names for clarity.

10. @Qualifier

What It Does:

• Specifies the exact bean to be injected when multiple beans of the same type exist.

When to Use It:

• Use @Qualifier when you have multiple implementations of the same interface.

Code Example:

@Service
public class MyService {
    @Autowired
    @Qualifier("specificBean")
    private MyRepository repository;
}

Best Practices:

• Always name your beans meaningfully to avoid confusion.

Conclusion

Spring Boot annotations are a game-changer for Java developers, simplifying development and enabling faster, more efficient coding. In 2025, mastering these annotations is crucial for building modern, scalable applications. [Spring Boot Annotations]

Key Takeaways:

• @SpringBootApplication is the main spring boot annotations and entry point for Spring Boot applications.
• @RestController, @Service, and @Repository spring boot annotations categorize components effectively.
• @Autowired and @Qualifier ensure proper dependency injection.
• @Transactional handles database transactions efficiently.
• @Value and @ConfigurationProperties simplify external configuration.

By mastering these annotations, you can enhance your Spring Boot projects and stay ahead in the development landscape.