## org.springframework.beans.factory.access
Interface BeanFactoryReference

All Known Implementing Classes:
  ContextBeanFactoryReference

    public interface BeanFactoryReference

Used to track a reference to a `BeanFactory` obtained through a `BeanFactoryLocator`.

It is safe to call `release()` multiple times, but `getFactory()` must not be called after calling release.

Author:
  Colin Sampaleanu
See Also:
  `BeanFactoryLocator`, `ContextBeanFactoryReference`

Method Summary
`BeanFactory` `getFactory()` Return the `BeanFactory` instance held by this reference.
`void` `release()` Indicate that the `BeanFactory` instance referred to by this object is not needed any longer by the client code which obtained the `BeanFactoryReference`.

Method Detail

### getFactory

    BeanFactory getFactory()

  Return the `BeanFactory` instance held by this reference.

  Throws:
    `IllegalStateException` - if invoked after `release()` has been called

### release

    void release()

  Indicate that the `BeanFactory` instance referred to by this object is not needed any longer by the client code which obtained the `BeanFactoryReference`.

  Depending on the actual implementation of `BeanFactoryLocator`, and the actual type of `BeanFactory`, this may possibly not actually do anything; alternately in the case of a 'closeable' `BeanFactory` or derived class (such as `ApplicationContext`) may 'close' it, or may 'close' it once no more references remain.

  In an EJB usage scenario this would normally be called from `ejbRemove()` and `ejbPassivate()`.

  This is safe to call multiple times.

  See Also:
    `BeanFactoryLocator`, `ContextBeanFactoryReference`, `ConfigurableApplicationContext.close()`