Java Beans are software components written in the Java programming language.
The JavaBeans specification by Sun Microsystems defines them as "reusable software components that can be manipulated visually in a builder tool".
In spite of many similarities, JavaBeans should not be confused with Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB), a server-side component technology that is part of J2EE.
Java Bean conventions
In order to function as a Java Bean class, an object class must obey certain conventions about method naming, construction, and behavior. These conventions make it possible to have tools that can use, reuse, replace, and connect Java Beans.
The required conventions are:
- The class should be serializable (able to persistently save and restore its state)
- It should have a no-argument constructor
- Its properties should be accessed using get and set methods that follow a standard naming convention
- It should contain any required event-handling methods
Because these requirements are largely expressed as conventions rather than by implementing interfaces, some developers view Java Beans as Plain Old Java Objects that follow certain naming conventions. However, this view is misleading for Java Beans that support event handling, because the method conventions and associated support classes for event handling are fairly intricate, and require the use of specific base classes and interfaces.
See also
- Widgets
- For a server side discussion of Java Beans see Enterprise Java Beans.
External links
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