📌 1. @RequestMapping
✅ General-purpose annotation to map any HTTP method (GET, POST, etc.)
📋 Syntax:
🔑 Key Features:
- Can handle any HTTP verb
- Supports path, method, params, headers, consumes, produces
- More verbose but flexible
📌 2. @GetMapping
✅ A specialized shortcut for @RequestMapping(method = RequestMethod.GET)
📋 Syntax:
🔑 Key Features:
- Introduced in Spring 4.3
- Less verbose, cleaner, and more readable
- Only supports GET requests
🆚 Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature |
@RequestMapping |
@GetMapping |
| HTTP Methods Supported |
All (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.) |
Only GET
|
| Verbosity |
More verbose |
Concise |
| Flexibility |
Highly flexible |
Use only for GET |
| Common Use Case |
Complex mappings, RESTful APIs |
Simple GET endpoints |
| Introduced In |
Early Spring versions |
Spring 4.3+ |
✅ Other Specialized Annotations
| Annotation |
Purpose |
@GetMapping |
For GET requests |
@PostMapping |
For POST requests |
@PutMapping |
For PUT requests |
@DeleteMapping |
For DELETE requests |
@PatchMapping |
For PATCH requests |
🎯 Recommendation
✅ Use @GetMapping, @PostMapping, etc. for cleaner code
✅ Use @RequestMapping when you need multiple methods or complex conditions
