Difference between applicationContext.xml and spring-servlet.xml in Spring Framework
java, spring
Solution
Spring lets you define multiple contexts in a parent-child hierarchy.
The `applicationContext.xml` defines the beans for the "root webapp context", i.e. the context associated with the webapp.
The `spring-servlet.xml` (or whatever else you call it) defines the beans for one servlet's app context. There can be many of these in a webapp, one per Spring servlet (e.g. `spring1-servlet.xml` for servlet `spring1`, `spring2-servlet.xml` for servlet `spring2`).
Beans in `spring-servlet.xml` can reference beans in `applicationContext.xml`, but not vice versa.
All Spring MVC controllers must go in the `spring-servlet.xml` context.
In most simple cases, the `applicationContext.xml` context is unnecessary. It is generally used to contain beans that are shared between all servlets in a webapp. If you only have one servlet, then there's not really much point, unless you have a specific use for it.
Problem
- Are `applicationContext.xml` and `spring-servlet.xml` related anyhow in Spring Framework? - Will the properties files declared in `applicationContext.xml` be available to `DispatcherServlet`? - On a related note, why do I need a `*-servlet.xml` at all? Why is `applicationContext.xml` alone insufficient?