Should You Ditch `ContextLoaderListener` in Spring Web Applications?

ContextLoaderListener Revisited

The standard Spring web application uses both a ContextLoaderListener and a DispatcherServlet. While the former is designed to load non-web-related configurations, and the latter solely handles web-related configurations, the question arises: why not use the DispatcherServlet to load all configurations to avoid the complexities of multiple contexts?

Reasons for Multiple Contexts

Historically, the use of both contexts was encouraged to separate web-related concerns from non-web-related ones. This practice offered advantages when sharing services between multiple DispatcherServlets or accessing Spring-wired services from legacy servlets. However, in cases where those conditions do not apply, as suggested in the question, there may be no compelling reason to maintain the webapp-level context.

Justification for Removal

The decision to remove the ContextLoaderListener is ultimately dependent on the specific application requirements. However, if none of the following scenarios apply:

• The need to share services between DispatcherServlets
• Reliance on legacy servlets that require Spring-wired services
• Utilization of filters that integrate with the webapp-level context

Then removing the ContextLoaderListener and relying solely on the DispatcherServlet can simplify the application architecture and potentially address issues related to event handling across contexts.

Caution

When considering the removal of the webapp-level context, carefully assess the impact on background tasks, such as scheduled tasks or JMS connections. If the implementation lacks a configuration, these tasks will only be initiated upon the first servlet access, potentially affecting timely processing.

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