Fullstack Java: Building an Online Store with Spring Boot and Thymeleaf
Creating a functional online store is one of the most rewarding fullstack Java projects. With tools like Spring Boot for the backend and Thymeleaf for the frontend, developers can build powerful, responsive, and maintainable web applications. This blog walks through the process of building a basic online store using these technologies, showcasing how fullstack development in Java can bring business ideas to life.
Why Use Spring Boot and Thymeleaf?
Spring Boot simplifies backend development by handling configuration and providing out-of-the-box features like embedded servers, REST APIs, and data access layers. Thymeleaf, on the other hand, is a modern server-side Java template engine that integrates smoothly with Spring Boot, allowing developers to write clean, dynamic HTML directly within Java-based applications.
This stack is perfect for fullstack projects that require tight integration between backend logic and frontend views, especially when building form-heavy, data-driven applications like an e-commerce store.
Key Features of the Online Store
A simple online store includes the following core features:
Product listing and details
Shopping cart
User registration and login
Order placement
Admin panel for product management
Let’s explore how each part comes together using Spring Boot and Thymeleaf.
Backend: Spring Boot
1. Model and Database Integration
Start by defining JPA entities like Product, User, and Order. Use Spring Data JPA to interact with a relational database such as MySQL or H2.
java
@Entity
public class Product {
@Id @GeneratedValue
private Long id;
private String name;
private Double price;
private String description;
// getters and setters
}
Spring Boot auto-configures data sources and supports repository interfaces like:
java
public interface ProductRepository extends JpaRepository<Product, Long> {}
2. Service Layer and Business Logic
Service classes handle business logic such as adding products to the cart, calculating totals, and managing inventory.
java
@Service
public class CartService {
public void addProduct(Product product) { /* logic */ }
}
3. Controllers and REST Endpoints
Use @Controller and @RequestMapping annotations to handle HTTP requests and serve HTML pages or JSON data.
Frontend: Thymeleaf Templates
Thymeleaf templates are placed in the src/main/resources/templates directory. These HTML pages use Thymeleaf syntax to dynamically render content from the backend.
html
<table>
<tr th:each="product : ${products}">
<td th:text="${product.name}"></td>
<td th:text="${product.price}"></td>
<td><a th:href="@{/cart/add/{id}(id=${product.id})}">Add to Cart</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
Thymeleaf makes it easy to bind form data, manage sessions, and navigate between views using dynamic links.
Security and User Management
Use Spring Security to handle user authentication and authorization. Define login forms, role-based access (e.g., admin vs. user), and secure endpoints. Passwords can be hashed using BCryptPasswordEncoder.
Conclusion
Building an online store using Spring Boot and Thymeleaf is a solid way to understand fullstack Java development. This combination allows developers to create robust, scalable web applications with clean separation between logic and presentation. As your store grows, you can expand features with microservices, RESTful APIs, payment integrations, and cloud deployments—making it a great foundation for any real-world Java project.
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