javajackson

JsonManagedReference vs JsonBackReference

I would like to know the difference between @JsonManagedReference and @JsonBackReference in Jackson?

Solution

  • @JsonManagedReference is the forward part of reference – the one that gets serialized normally.

    @JsonBackReference is the back part of reference – it will be omitted from serialization.

    So they depend on the direction of your relationship:

    public class User {
    public int id;
    public String name;
 
    @JsonManagedReference
    public List<Item> userItems; 
} 

public class Item {
    public int id;
    public String itemName;
 
    @JsonBackReference
    public User owner; 
 }

    A useful guide for more details: https://www.baeldung.com/jackson-bidirectional-relationships-and-infinite-recursion