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Best Folder and Directory Structure for Spring Boot Project

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As a popular Java-based framework, Spring Boot offers flexibility and ease of development. However, without a well-structured folder and directory layout, managing a Spring Boot project can become challenging. In this blog, we’ll explore the best practices for setting up an efficient folder and directory structure for your Spring Boot project, complete with real-world examples to guide you through the process.

SpringBoot Folder Structuring

Note: This directory structure can also be used for Rest Api applications also.

1. Project Root Directory:

At the root level of your Spring Boot project, you’ll find essential files and directories:

/my_spring_boot_project/
|-- src/
|-- pom.xml
|-- static/
|-- templates/
|-- application.properties
|-- test/
  • src/: This directory houses all the Java source code and resources for your project.
  • pom.xml: The Project Object Model (POM) file containing project dependencies and configuration.
  • static/: Holds static files like CSS, JavaScript, and images used across the application.
  • templates/: Contains the HTML templates used for server-side rendering.
  • application.properties: Properties file for configuring Spring Boot settings.
  • test/: Contains test-related files and classes.

2. The “src” Directory:

The “src” directory is a crucial part of your Spring Boot project, and it will have the following structure:

/my_spring_boot_project/
|-- src/
    |-- main/
    |   |-- java/
    |   |   |-- com/
    |   |   |   |-- yourdomain/
    |   |   |   |   |-- controller/
    |   |   |   |   |-- model/
    |   |   |   |   |-- service/
    |   |   |   |   |-- repository/
    |   |   |-- resources/
    |   |   |   |-- static/
    |   |   |   |-- templates/
    |   |   |   |-- application.properties
    |-- test/
  • main/: This directory contains the main source code and resources for your application.
  • java/: The root package for Java source code.
  • com/: A common package name for organizations to avoid naming conflicts.
  • yourdomain/: Replace this with your domain or organization name.
  • controller/: Contains the Spring MVC controllers that handle HTTP requests.
  • model/: Houses the data models or entities for your application.
  • service/: Implements the business logic and acts as an intermediary between the controllers and repositories.
  • repository/: Handles data access and interactions with the database.
  • resources/: Holds configuration files and other resources.
  • static/: Project-wide static files.
  • templates/: Project-wide templates.
  • application.properties: Project-specific configurations.

Modularization (Optional):

For larger Spring Boot projects, modularization is recommended to maintain code organization and separation of concerns. Here’s an example:

/my_spring_boot_project/
|-- src/
    |-- main/
    |   |-- java/
    |   |   |-- com/
    |   |   |   |-- yourdomain/
    |   |   |   |   |-- module1/
    |   |   |   |   |   |-- controller/
    |   |   |   |   |   |-- model/
    |   |   |   |   |   |-- service/
    |   |   |   |   |   |-- repository/
    |   |   |   |   |-- module2/
    |   |   |   |   |   |-- controller/
    |   |   |   |   |   |-- model/
    |   |   |   |   |   |-- service/
    |   |   |   |   |   |-- repository/
    |-- test/

Organizing your Spring Boot project with a well-structured folder and directory layout is essential for long-term maintainability and codebase clarity. By following the best practices and adopting the xamples provided in this blog, you can ensure a clean and scalable Spring Boot project that remains eazy to understand and expand as your application grows. Happy coding with Spring Boot!

You can also read our blog on Spring Boot Best Practices: Build Efficient Applications

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