Spring vs Spring Boot: Understanding the Difference Between Spring and Spring Boot in 2025

Did you know that 30.3% of developers prefer Java for application development? This is due to Java's versatility and robustness. Spring and Spring Boot are two key tools that further enhance Java's power.

Both Spring and Spring Boot are popular frameworks for building applications. While Spring offers extensive customization, Spring Boot provides built-in templates that speed up development.

If you're a Java developer looking to understand the differences between Spring and Spring Boot, this blog is the perfect guide for you. Dive in!

What is Spring? An Overview

Spring is a popular, lightweight, and open-source Java framework that simplifies the development of enterprise-level applications. It provides a comprehensive ecosystem of tools and modules for creating scalable, maintainable, and efficient applications.

Here are the key features of spring.

• Dependency Injection (DI)
  It supports the injection of dependencies into components, promoting loose coupling and easier testing.
• Aspect-Oriented Programming (AOP)
  It addresses cross-cutting concerns like logging, security, and transactions.
• Loose Coupling and Modular Architecture
  It promotes building components that interact minimally, allowing easier maintenance and scalability.

Here are the popular Spring modules.

• Spring Test: Provides testing utilities for Spring-based applications.
• Spring Security: Adds authentication and authorization capabilities.
• Spring Web: Supports web application development.
• Spring JDBC: Simplifies database interactions with templates.
• Spring AOP: Implements aspect-oriented programming features.
• Spring MVC: Facilitates building web applications with the Model-View-Controller pattern.
• Spring ORM: Integrates with ORM frameworks like Hibernate.

The benefits offered by Spring include the following.

• Reduced Development Time: Spring automates repetitive tasks, allowing developers to focus on business logic.
• Enhanced Code Quality: Loose coupling and AOP ensure better maintainability.
• Comprehensive Ecosystem: Offers a one-stop solution for web, security, and data access.

Also Read: Top 35 Spring Interview Questions & Answers: Ultimate Guide 2024

Now that you’ve understood the overview of Spring, let’s explore Spring Boot.

What is Spring Boot? Key Insights

Spring Boot is a framework built on top of Spring that allows developers to create and deploy applications quickly. It simplifies the setup and configuration process, making it easier to start a project without detailed manual setup.

Here are the key features of Spring Boot.

• Autoconfiguration
  Automatically configures Spring-based applications based on the dependencies present without the need for manual configurations.
• Embedded Servers
  Includes built-in web servers like Tomcat or Undertow, allowing applications to run without external server setup.
• Opinionated Approach for Faster Development
  Provides sensible defaults and predefined configurations, allowing faster development.

Spring Boot offers the following benefits.

• Simplified Setup
  Spring Boot’s autoconfiguration detects dependencies and configures them automatically.
• Embedded Servers
  Applications can be packaged as executable JARs or WARs, making deployment straightforward.
• Developer Productivity
  The opinionated defaults in Spring Boot accelerate development, especially for microservices and RESTful APIs.

Also Read: Top Spring Boot Features for Java Developers

Now that you have an idea of Spring and Spring Boot, let’s explore their differences.

Difference between Spring and Spring Boot: Key Comparison

While Spring is known for its comprehensive framework, Spring Boot simplifies the development environment. 

Here’s the difference between Spring and Spring Boot.

Now that you have explored Spring vs Spring Boot, let’s look at the similarities between the two. 

Spring vs Spring Boot: Key Similarities You Should Know

Spring Boot shares several features with Spring since it is built on top of it, ensuring a seamless transition between the two frameworks. Here are the similarities between Spring and Spring Boot.

• Core Architecture

Both frameworks rely on the Spring Core module, which includes features like Dependency Injection (DI) and Inversion of Control (IoC).

• Spring Ecosystem

Spring Boot extends and integrates seamlessly with the Spring ecosystem, supporting modules like Spring Security, Spring Web, Spring Data, and Spring MVC.

• Java Configuration

Both Spring and Spring Boot allow you to use Java-based configuration instead of XML, ensuring cleaner and more maintainable code.

• Web Development Support

Both frameworks provide robust tools for building web applications using Spring MVC. For example, both support building REST APIs.

Also Read: Top 30+ Java Web Application Technologies You Should Master in 2025

• Testing Support

Both frameworks offer comprehensive testing capabilities with support for JUnit and Mockito, allowing unit and integration tests.

• Security

Spring and Spring Boot share the same security module—Spring Security, which provides advanced features like authentication and CSRF protection.

Now that you’ve explored the similarities between Spring and Spring Boot, let’s now look at the advantages of choosing Spring Boot.

Advantages of Choosing Spring Boot Over Spring

Since Spring Boot offers several advancements over the traditional Spring framework, it is a preferred choice for modern application development. Here are the key advantages offered by Spring Boot.

• Faster Development

Spring Boot provides default configurations and starter templates, significantly reducing the time needed to start a project.

Example: A Spring Boot application can be initialized in minutes using the Spring Initializer tool.

• Simplified Dependency Management

Spring Boot provides starter dependencies that bundle commonly used libraries, avoiding dependency conflicts.

Example: Adding spring-boot-starter-web automatically includes libraries like Spring MVC and Tomcat.

• Embedded Servers

Spring Boot comes with embedded servers like Jetty, removing the need for external server installation.

Example: You can run a Spring Boot application as a standalone JAR file with an embedded Tomcat server.

• Reduced Boilerplate Code

Spring Boot minimizes boilerplate code with features like autoconfiguration that eliminates repetitive tasks.

Example: There’s no need to write extensive XML or Java configuration for standard features.

• No Need for web.xml

Spring Boot eliminates the need for the traditional web.xml file by enabling annotation-based configurations.

Example: Annotations like @SpringBootApplication can handle application setup instead of declaring configurations in XML.

Also Read: Spring Boot Annotations Everyone Should Know [2024]

• Easier Deployment

Spring Boot applications are self-contained and can be easily deployed as executable JAR or WAR files.

Example: A Spring Boot application can be deployed with a single command: java -jar app.jar.

Now that you’ve explored both Spring and Spring Boot, let’s determine which is the best fit for your project.

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Spring vs Spring Boot: Which One Should You Choose?

Spring and Spring Boot each have their own strengths and limitations, and the choice between them depends on your project’s specific requirements. Here’s how you can decide which one to choose.

• Project Complexity

Choose Spring for large, complex projects that need highly customized configurations. For smaller projects or microservices, select Spring Boot.

• Configuration Effort

If your project needs precise control, choose Spring. If you can use autoconfiguration and prebuilt templates, Spring Boot will be ideal.

• Development Speed

Choose Spring Boot for faster development due to its embedded servers and default settings. Spring can be time-consuming due to its extensive setup process.

• Team Expertise

If your team is familiar with the Spring framework, it's better to choose Spring. Spring Boot is more beginner-friendly and good for new users.

• Application Type

For microservices or standalone applications, Spring Boot is ideal. For enterprise-level applications, Spring is more suitable for its flexibility.

• Scalability Needs

Both frameworks support scalability, but Spring Boot’s lightweight structure is suitable for distributed systems.

Now that you have a clear understanding of choosing between Spring and Spring Boot, let’s explore how you can deepen your knowledge of both frameworks.

Explore XML Tutorials with Examples and Stay Updated

How upGrad Can Support Your Spring and Spring Boot Journey?

Spring and Spring Boot are exceptional frameworks for Java development, offering you a powerful and flexible platform for building robust and scalable applications.

Choosing between these frameworks requires a solid understanding and hands-on experience, which can be achieved through dedicated learning.

upGrad’s courses will cover the essentials of Spring and Spring Boot, providing you the knowledge and practical experience. 

Here are the top courses offered by upGrad that can increase your knowledge of Java application development process.

• Full Stack Development Bootcamp
• AI-Powered Full Stack Development Course by IIITB
• Core Java Basics

Contact upGrad for personalized counseling and valuable insights. For more details, you can also visit your nearest upGrad offline center. 

Similar Read:

• Top 18 Exciting Spring Projects Ideas & Topics For Beginners [2024]
• Top 10 Critical Spring Boot Interview Questions and Answers [For Beginners & Experienced]

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