Bean scope scenario : Prototyped inner bean of a Singleton bean

Scenario

<bean id="singletonBean" class="...">

    <property name="instanceBean" ref="instanceBean" />

</bean>

<bean id="instanceBean" class="..." scope="prototype" />

When I call : 

singletonBean = context.getBean("singletonBean");  // Get main bean

// ...some code...

singletonBean = context.getBean("singletonBean");  // Get it again

Would property instanceBean of singletonBean be initialized again or it would just use already created singleton ?

Answer

It would just use already created singleton.

A prototyped inner bean of a singleton won't be recreated each time you get the singleton from context.

The singleton and all is references are created one for all.

But context.getBean("instanceBean");  would give you a new since scope is 'prototype'.