@ComponentScan with multiple configuration class : Annotation Based Configuration

Question

As per Spring Doc-

Configures component scanning directives for use with @Configuration classes. Provides support parallel with Spring XML's <context:component-scan> element.

In my spring web application there are multiple files those are marked @Configuration,in order to register @component bean in spring container-

Question1- Can we use @ComponentScan in any of the @Configuration class or in all @Configuration classes?

Question2-

Also I seen in spring doc

@Configuration
@ComponentScan(basePackageClasses = { MyConfiguration.class })
public class MyConfiguration extends WebMvcConfigurerAdapter {
...
}

Why here scanning for configuration class itself.

edit: Basically my understanding with @ComponentScan is to scan and register stereo type bean(ex- @componant,@Controller,@Services etc..),why we are registering @Configuration Bean.

Answer 1

For your Question 1 -

yes, you can register a bean using @ComponentScan in any of the configuration bean which is registered in spring container.you can register a bean into container by any of the following way-

1. Use @Configuration to register bean in rootcontext or dispatchersevletcontext.
2. Import a class in any @Configuration bean (which is already registered in container).

Let say- you have MvcConfig class in which you are scanning component-

@ComponentScan(basePackages = {"xxxx","yyyy","zzzz"})
@Configuration
public class MvcConfig  {
....
}

To register MvcConfig in container you must do-

Either

new AnnotationConfigWebApplicationContext().register(MvcConfig.class);

Or

new AnnotationConfigWebApplicationContext().register(AnotherConfig.class);

@Configuration
@Import({MvcConfig.class})
public class AnotherConfig  {
....
}

For your Question 2 -

Here spring is not only registering MyConfiguration.class but also all the component classes those are present in the package in which MyConfiguration defined.