spring-projects/spring-framework · error · UnsatisfiedDependencyException

Unsatisfied dependency expressed through {}

Error message

Unsatisfied dependency expressed through {}

What it means

Thrown as UnsatisfiedDependencyException from AutowiredFieldElement.resolveFieldValue() when beanFactory.resolveDependency() throws a BeansException for an @Autowired field. The exception captures the InjectionPoint (the field) so the user sees which field caused the failure. Common underlying causes are NoSuchBeanDefinitionException or NoUniqueBeanDefinitionException.

Source

Thrown at spring-beans/src/main/java/org/springframework/beans/factory/annotation/AutowiredAnnotationBeanPostProcessor.java:767

			}
			if (value != null) {
				ReflectionUtils.makeAccessible(field);
				field.set(bean, value);
			}
		}

		private @Nullable Object resolveFieldValue(Field field, Object bean, @Nullable String beanName) {
			DependencyDescriptor desc = new DependencyDescriptor(field, this.required);
			desc.setContainingClass(bean.getClass());
			Set<String> autowiredBeanNames = new LinkedHashSet<>(2);
			Assert.state(beanFactory != null, "No BeanFactory available");
			TypeConverter typeConverter = beanFactory.getTypeConverter();
			Object value;
			try {
				value = beanFactory.resolveDependency(desc, beanName, autowiredBeanNames, typeConverter);
			}
			catch (BeansException ex) {
				throw new UnsatisfiedDependencyException(null, beanName, new InjectionPoint(field), ex);
			}
			synchronized (this) {
				if (!this.cached) {
					if (value != null || this.required) {
						Object cachedFieldValue = desc;
						registerDependentBeans(beanName, autowiredBeanNames);
						if (value != null && autowiredBeanNames.size() == 1) {
							String autowiredBeanName = autowiredBeanNames.iterator().next();
							if (beanFactory.containsBean(autowiredBeanName) &&
									beanFactory.isTypeMatch(autowiredBeanName, field.getType())) {
								cachedFieldValue = new ShortcutDependencyDescriptor(desc, autowiredBeanName);
							}
						}
						this.cachedFieldValue = cachedFieldValue;
						this.cached = true;
					}
					else {
						this.cachedFieldValue = null;

View on GitHub (pinned to 69bf83ad71)

Solutions

1. Check the nested cause — if NoSuchBeanDefinitionException, register a bean of the required type or mark the field @Autowired(required=false).
2. If NoUniqueBeanDefinitionException, add @Qualifier("beanName") or designate one implementation @Primary.
3. Verify @ComponentScan covers the package containing the implementation.

Example fix

// before
@Autowired
private MyRepository repo; // two implementations exist

// after
@Autowired
@Qualifier("jpaRepository")
private MyRepository repo;

// Before context refresh, verify beans exist for each @Autowired field type
for (Field f : MyBean.class.getDeclaredFields()) {
    if (f.isAnnotationPresent(Autowired.class)) {
        String[] names = beanFactory.getBeanNamesForType(f.getType());
        if (names.length == 0 && f.getAnnotation(Autowired.class).required()) {
            System.err.println("Missing bean for field: " + f.getName());
        }
        if (names.length > 1 && !f.isAnnotationPresent(Qualifier.class)) {
            System.err.println("Ambiguous bean for field: " + f.getName());
        }
    }
}

try {
    context.getBean(MyBean.class);
} catch (UnsatisfiedDependencyException ex) {
    InjectionPoint ip = ex.getInjectionPoint();
    if (ip != null) {
        System.err.println("Failed at field/method: " + ip.getMember());
    }
    Throwable cause = ex.getCause(); // NoSuchBeanDefinitionException etc.
}

When it happens

Trigger: An @Autowired field's type cannot be resolved: no bean of that type exists, multiple beans exist without a disambiguating @Qualifier, or a scoped proxy resolution fails. The catch at line 766-768 wraps the BeansException into UnsatisfiedDependencyException referencing the field.

Common situations: Declaring @Autowired on an interface with no implementations registered. Forgetting to register a @Component via @ComponentScan. Multiple implementations of an interface without @Primary or @Qualifier. A required bean failing its own creation (cascading failure).

Related errors

• Invalid autowire-marked constructors: {}. Found constructor
• Injection of autowired dependencies failed
• Injection of autowired dependencies failed for class [{}]
• Unsatisfied dependency expressed through field
• Unsatisfied dependency expressed through parameter

AI-assisted analysis of spring-projects/spring-framework@69bf83ad71 (2026-08-09). Data as JSON: /api/errors/a836c460d5efd88a. Report an issue: GitHub.