Understanding the Differences Between Spring HATEOAS and Spring Data REST

What are the differences between Spring HATEOAS and Spring Data REST, and when should you use one over the other?

Spring HATEOAS and Spring Data REST are both frameworks designed to simplify RESTful API development in Spring applications. However, they serve distinct purposes and provide unique capabilities related to hypermedia and data management in REST APIs.

@RestController
public class UserController {
    @Autowired
    private UserRepository userRepository;
    
    @GetMapping("/users/{id}")
    public EntityModel<User> getUser(@PathVariable Long id) {
        User user = userRepository.findById(id)
            .orElseThrow(() -> new UserNotFoundException(id));
        return EntityModel.of(user,
                linkTo(methodOn(UserController.class).getUser(id)).withSelfRel(),
                linkTo(methodOn(UserController.class).getAllUsers()).withRel("users"));
    }
}

Causes

• Spring HATEOAS is primarily focused on adding hypermedia support to RESTful APIs. It facilitates the creation of REST APIs that actively use hyperlinks to navigate the API while following REST principles.
• Spring Data REST is designed to expose Spring Data repositories as RESTful endpoints. It automatically handles CRUD operations and maps domain objects to HTTP resources based on JPA entities.

Solutions

• Use Spring HATEOAS when you need to enhance existing REST APIs with hypermedia links to create a more navigable and discoverable API experience. It allows clients to navigate the API dynamically based on the links provided in responses.
• Use Spring Data REST when you want to quickly expose your Spring Data repositories as RESTful endpoints without custom controllers. It's ideal for CRUD-based applications where rapid development is a priority.

Mistake: Choosing Spring HATEOAS when you only need basic CRUD operations.

Solution: If your API requirements are strictly CRUD and do not require hypermedia, consider using Spring Data REST.

Mistake: Using Spring Data REST without understanding its auto-generated endpoints.

Solution: Make sure to familiarize yourself with how Spring Data REST exposes your repository as REST endpoints to effectively manage routes and resources.