5.8. Summary

Reading data from batch processes is the first step of a chunk-based tasklet. Spring Batch provides support for this step with the generic ItemReader and ItemStream interfaces. Spring Batch implements these interfaces for common technologies used in batch processes to import data. Using our case study as an example, we described how to read data from various types of flat files and XML files. We also described how to get data from a database, how to integrate with existing services, and how to interact with a MOM like JMS.

We briefly mentioned that reading is involved in the complete batch process execution. This aspect is fundamental to restart batch processes and avoid reading data again when things go wrong later in processing and writing. We didn’t go into details about reading, but we deal with this issue in chapter 8.