How to Override Spring `message` Tag with Database Values?

How can I override the Spring `message` tag to use values from a database instead of static properties files?

<spring:message code="your.key"/>

In Spring applications, localization is commonly handled using properties files. However, there are scenarios where you may want to fetch these messages dynamically from a database. This can be particularly useful for applications that require frequent updates to localization without modifying the properties files directly.

import org.springframework.context.MessageSource;
import org.springframework.context.support.AbstractMessageSource;
import java.util.Locale;

public class DatabaseMessageSource extends AbstractMessageSource {
    @Override
    protected String getMessage(String code, Object[] args, Locale locale) {
        // Fetch values from the database based on code and locale
        String message = fetchMessageFromDatabase(code, locale);
        return message != null ? message : "[Not Found]";  // Fallback message
    }

    private String fetchMessageFromDatabase(String code, Locale locale) {
        // Database query logic goes here
        return "Fetched message from DB"; // Example placeholder
    }
}

Causes

• Static message properties don't reflect real-time changes from the database.
• Database-driven applications require dynamic content to enhance user experience.

Solutions

• Implement a custom MessageSource to load messages from the database.
• Use Spring's `AbstractMessageSource` class to define your logic for fetching messages.
• Incorporate caching mechanisms to improve performance when retrieving messages.

Mistake: Forgetting to register the custom MessageSource in Spring configuration.

Solution: Ensure that your custom MessageSource is registered as a bean in the Spring context.

Mistake: Neglecting to handle exceptions when fetching data from the database.

Solution: Implement proper error handling and logging to diagnose any issues with database connectivity.