Chapter 17: Spring Boot GET REST API — @GetMapping Annotation | Spring Boot Course

Ramesh Fadatare

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Apr 23, 2025

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Introduction

In this chapter, we will cover everything about the @GetMapping annotation in Spring Boot. We also see how to use a Java record as a DTO to transfer data between the client and server.

@GetMapping Annotation Overview

What is @GetMapping?

The @GetMapping annotation in Spring Boot is used to create a mapping between HTTP GET requests and handler methods in a controller. It is a specialized version of the @RequestMapping annotation that is specifically designed to handle GET requests.

How @GetMapping Works

When a client sends an HTTP GET request to a specified URL, the @GetMapping annotation maps this request to a specific handler method in the controller. The method then processes the request and returns a response.

Important Attributes of @GetMapping

• value: Defines the URI path that this method will handle. It can also be specified as path.
• params: Specifies the parameters of the request that need to be matched for the method to be invoked.
• headers: Specifies the headers of the request that need to be matched for the method to be invoked.
• produces: Specifies the type of media types that the method produces (e.g., application/json).

Key Features of @GetMapping

1. Simplified Mapping: @GetMapping provides a straightforward way to map HTTP GET requests to specific methods. This makes the code more readable and easier to understand compared to using the more generic @RequestMapping annotation.
2. Request Parameters: @GetMapping can work with @RequestParam and @PathVariable to extract parameters from the request URL, allowing for dynamic and flexible request handling.
3. Content Negotiation: It supports content negotiation, which allows the method to return different representations of the…