Spring Boot @RequestParam vs. @PathVariable: Choosing the Right Annotation

This question doesn't have a definitive answer, as the best choice depends on your specific requirements and scenario.

'@RequestParam' is suitable for passing a smaller number of parameters. These parameters can be optional or required. They are passed within the URL query. For example:

@GetMapping('/user')
public User getUser(@RequestParam(name = 'id') Long id) {
    // ...
}

'@PathVariable' is suitable for passing a larger number of parameters. These parameters are usually required and are passed within the URL path. For example:

@GetMapping('/user/{id}')
public User getUser(@PathVariable Long id) {
    // ...
}

Therefore, if you need to pass a small number of parameters, and these parameters might be optional, then you can use 'RequestParam'. If you need to pass a larger number of parameters, and these parameters are required, then you can use 'PathVariable'.