## org.springframework.beans.factory.support
Interface BeanDefinitionRegistry

All Superinterfaces:
  AliasRegistry

All Known Implementing Classes:
  AnnotationConfigApplicationContext, DefaultListableBeanFactory, GenericApplicationContext, GenericWebApplicationContext, GenericXmlApplicationContext, ResourceAdapterApplicationContext, SimpleBeanDefinitionRegistry, StaticApplicationContext, StaticPortletApplicationContext, StaticWebApplicationContext, XmlBeanFactory

    public interface BeanDefinitionRegistry

extends AliasRegistry

Interface for registries that hold bean definitions, for example RootBeanDefinition and ChildBeanDefinition instances. Typically implemented by BeanFactories that internally work with the AbstractBeanDefinition hierarchy.

This is the only interface in Spring's bean factory packages that encapsulates registration of bean definitions. The standard BeanFactory interfaces only cover access to a fully configured factory instance.

Spring's bean definition readers expect to work on an implementation of this interface. Known implementors within the Spring core are DefaultListableBeanFactory and GenericApplicationContext.

Since:
  26.11.2003
Author:
  Juergen Hoeller
See Also:
  `BeanDefinition`, `AbstractBeanDefinition`, `RootBeanDefinition`, `ChildBeanDefinition`, `DefaultListableBeanFactory`, `GenericApplicationContext`, `XmlBeanDefinitionReader`, `PropertiesBeanDefinitionReader`

Method Summary
`boolean` `containsBeanDefinition(String beanName)` Check if this registry contains a bean definition with the given name.
`BeanDefinition` `getBeanDefinition(String beanName)` Return the BeanDefinition for the given bean name.
`int` `getBeanDefinitionCount()` Return the number of beans defined in the registry.
`String[]` `getBeanDefinitionNames()` Return the names of all beans defined in this registry.
`boolean` `isBeanNameInUse(String beanName)` Determine whether the given bean name is already in use within this registry, i.e.
`void` `registerBeanDefinition(String beanName, BeanDefinition beanDefinition)` Register a new bean definition with this registry.
`void` `removeBeanDefinition(String beanName)` Remove the BeanDefinition for the given name.

Methods inherited from interface org.springframework.core.AliasRegistry
`getAliases, isAlias, registerAlias, removeAlias`

Method Detail

### registerBeanDefinition

    void registerBeanDefinition(String beanName,
                                BeanDefinition beanDefinition)
                                throws BeanDefinitionStoreException

  Register a new bean definition with this registry. Must support RootBeanDefinition and ChildBeanDefinition.

  Parameters:
    `beanName` - the name of the bean instance to register
    `beanDefinition` - definition of the bean instance to register
  Throws:
    `BeanDefinitionStoreException` - if the BeanDefinition is invalid or if there is already a BeanDefinition for the specified bean name (and we are not allowed to override it)
  See Also:
    `RootBeanDefinition`, `ChildBeanDefinition`

### removeBeanDefinition

    void removeBeanDefinition(String beanName)
                              throws NoSuchBeanDefinitionException

  Remove the BeanDefinition for the given name.

  Parameters:
    `beanName` - the name of the bean instance to register
  Throws:
    `NoSuchBeanDefinitionException` - if there is no such bean definition

### getBeanDefinition

    BeanDefinition getBeanDefinition(String beanName)
                                     throws NoSuchBeanDefinitionException

  Return the BeanDefinition for the given bean name.

  Parameters:
    `beanName` - name of the bean to find a definition for
  Returns:
    the BeanDefinition for the given name (never `null`)
  Throws:
    `NoSuchBeanDefinitionException` - if there is no such bean definition

### containsBeanDefinition

    boolean containsBeanDefinition(String beanName)

  Check if this registry contains a bean definition with the given name.

  Parameters:
    `beanName` - the name of the bean to look for
  Returns:
    if this registry contains a bean definition with the given name

### getBeanDefinitionNames

    String[] getBeanDefinitionNames()

  Return the names of all beans defined in this registry.

  Returns:
    the names of all beans defined in this registry, or an empty array if none defined

### getBeanDefinitionCount

    int getBeanDefinitionCount()

  Return the number of beans defined in the registry.

  Returns:
    the number of beans defined in the registry

### isBeanNameInUse

    boolean isBeanNameInUse(String beanName)

  Determine whether the given bean name is already in use within this registry, i.e. whether there is a local bean or alias registered under this name.

  Parameters:
    `beanName` - the name to check
  Returns:
    whether the given bean name is already in use