Spring Framework FAQ: Top Questions

26. What is @RestController in Spring and how is it different from @Controller?

@RestController is a convenience annotation that combines @Controller and @ResponseBody. It is used to build RESTful web services by returning data directly as JSON or XML.

📘 Key Differences:

@Controller: Used for rendering views (e.g., JSP, Thymeleaf).
@RestController: Returns objects directly in HTTP response body.

📥 Example:

@RestController
public class ApiController {
  @GetMapping("/api/greet")
  public String greet() {
    return "Hello, API!";
  }
}

🏆 Expected Output:

Returns plain text or JSON response: "Hello, API!"

🛠️ Use Cases:

Building RESTful web services.
Creating JSON APIs for SPAs or mobile apps.

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