spring-projects/spring-framework · error · IllegalArgumentException

Specify either 'targetObject' or 'targetBeanName', not both

Error message

Specify either 'targetObject' or 'targetBeanName', not both

What it means

Error "Specify either 'targetObject' or 'targetBeanName', not both" thrown in spring-projects/spring-framework.

Source

Thrown at spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/config/PropertyPathFactoryBean.java:164

	/**
	 * The bean name of this PropertyPathFactoryBean will be interpreted
	 * as "beanName.property" pattern, if neither "targetObject" nor
	 * "targetBeanName" nor "propertyPath" have been specified.
	 * This allows for concise bean definitions with just an id/name.
	 */
	@Override
	public void setBeanName(String beanName) {
		this.beanName = StringUtils.trimAllWhitespace(BeanFactoryUtils.originalBeanName(beanName));
	}


	@Override
	public void setBeanFactory(BeanFactory beanFactory) {
		this.beanFactory = beanFactory;
		String targetBeanName = this.targetBeanName;

		if (this.targetBeanWrapper != null && targetBeanName != null) {
			throw new IllegalArgumentException("Specify either 'targetObject' or 'targetBeanName', not both");
		}

		if (this.targetBeanWrapper == null && targetBeanName == null) {
			if (this.propertyPath != null) {
				throw new IllegalArgumentException(
						"Specify 'targetObject' or 'targetBeanName' in combination with 'propertyPath'");
			}

			// No other properties specified: check bean name.
			int dotIndex;
			if (this.beanName == null || (dotIndex = this.beanName.indexOf('.')) <= 0) {
				throw new IllegalArgumentException(
						"Neither 'targetObject' nor 'targetBeanName' specified, and PropertyPathFactoryBean " +
						"bean name '" + this.beanName + "' does not follow 'beanName.property' syntax");
			}
			targetBeanName = this.beanName.substring(0, dotIndex);
			this.targetBeanName = targetBeanName;
			this.propertyPath = this.beanName.substring(dotIndex + 1);

View on GitHub (pinned to e8729d0438)

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/config/PropertyPathFactoryBean.java:164 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of spring-projects/spring-framework@e8729d0438 (2026-08-04). Data as JSON: /data/errors/4325d293f5b00989.json. Report an issue: GitHub.