Spring Batch Jobs and Steps
Structure batch processing into steps.
Spring Batch Jobs and Steps is a free Spring Boot 4 Microservices & REST APIs lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 2 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Spring Boot 4 Microservices & REST APIs learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
What is Spring Batch?
Spring Batch is a framework for robust, large-volume batch processing: reading, transforming and writing data in bulk with built-in transaction management, chunking, and restartability.
- ETL jobs, migrations, nightly reports
- Handles millions of records reliably
Adding the dependency
Add spring-boot-starter-batch. Spring Batch needs a datasource to store its metadata (job and step execution history).
<!-- Maven -->
<dependency>
<groupId>org.springframework.boot</groupId>
<artifactId>spring-boot-starter-batch</artifactId>
</dependency>Core concepts: Job and Step
A Job is the whole batch process. It is made of one or more Steps executed in sequence. Each Step does one phase of work.
Job= the overall unitStep= a phase (read-process-write or a tasklet)
JobRepository and metadata
The JobRepository persists execution state to database tables (BATCH_JOB_EXECUTION, BATCH_STEP_EXECUTION...). This is what enables restartability and prevents re-running a completed job instance.
Defining a Job with JobBuilder
Use JobBuilder to assemble a job. You give it a name, a JobRepository, and a starting step.
@Bean
public Job importJob(JobRepository repo, Step step1) {
return new JobBuilder("importJob", repo)
.start(step1)
.build();
}Defining a Step with StepBuilder
StepBuilder builds a step. A chunk-oriented step declares the input/output types, a chunk size, and the reader, processor and writer.
@Bean
public Step step1(JobRepository repo,
PlatformTransactionManager tx,
ItemReader<String> reader,
ItemWriter<String> writer) {
return new StepBuilder("step1", repo)
.<String, String>chunk(10, tx)
.reader(reader)
.writer(writer)
.build();
}Chunk-oriented processing
Chunk processing reads items one by one, accumulates them up to the chunk size, then writes the whole chunk in a single transaction. If the chunk fails it rolls back together.
- read 10 items -> process each -> write 10 -> commit
Tasklet steps
For a single unit of work (delete a file, run a stored procedure) use a Tasklet step instead of reader/writer.
@Bean
public Step cleanupStep(JobRepository repo, PlatformTransactionManager tx) {
return new StepBuilder("cleanup", repo)
.tasklet((contribution, context) -> {
deleteTempFiles();
return RepeatStatus.FINISHED;
}, tx)
.build();
}Chaining multiple steps
Run steps in order with .next(). The job moves to the next step only if the previous one succeeds.
@Bean
public Job pipeline(JobRepository repo, Step extract, Step transform, Step load) {
return new JobBuilder("etl", repo)
.start(extract)
.next(transform)
.next(load)
.build();
}JobParameters
A JobInstance is identified by its name plus JobParameters. Different parameters (e.g. a date) create distinct instances, which is how you re-run a job for a new day.
JobParameters params = new JobParametersBuilder()
.addString("runDate", "2026-05-30")
.toJobParameters();
jobLauncher.run(importJob, params);Launching jobs in Spring Boot
By default Spring Boot runs all defined jobs on startup. Disable that with spring.batch.job.enabled=false and launch manually via JobLauncher when you need control (e.g. on a schedule).
Quick Check
Check your grasp of Job and Step structure.
Recap
You now understand the batch model:
Jobcontains orderedStepsJobBuilder/StepBuilderassemble them- Chunk steps read-process-write in transactions; tasklet steps do single units
JobParametersidentify aJobInstanceand enable re-runs
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Spring Batch Jobs and Steps” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Spring Batch Jobs and Steps” is free to read here on the web, and the Spring Boot 4 Microservices & REST APIs course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Spring Boot 4 Microservices & REST APIs course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Spring Batch Jobs and Steps”?
Structure batch processing into steps. You practise Spring Boot 4 Microservices & REST APIs with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Spring Boot 4 Microservices & REST APIs?
No prior experience is required. Spring Boot 4 Microservices & REST APIs on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 2 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Spring Batch Jobs and Steps” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Spring Boot 4 Microservices & REST APIs lesson?
Yes. Every Spring Boot 4 Microservices & REST APIs lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Scheduling with @Scheduled
- Spring Batch Jobs and Steps
- Readers, Processors, and Writers
- Restart and Error Handling