How do I use the Hibernate Criteria API?

How do I use the Hibernate Criteria API?

The Hibernate Criteria API allows you to create queries programmatically. You can use it to build complex queries without writing HQL or SQL.

Can you give me an example of a simple query using the Criteria API?

Sure! Here's a basic example:

CriteriaBuilder criteriaBuilder = session.getCriteriaBuilder();
CriteriaQuery<YourEntity> criteriaQuery = criteriaBuilder.createQuery(YourEntity.class);
Root<YourEntity> root = criteriaQuery.from(YourEntity.class);
criteriaQuery.select(root).where(criteriaBuilder.equal(root.get("propertyName"), "value"));
List<YourEntity> results = session.createQuery(criteriaQuery).getResultList();

What are the advantages of using the Criteria API over HQL?

The Criteria API is type-safe, allows for dynamic query generation, and is easier to read and maintain compared to HQL.

Are there any limitations I should be aware of?

Yes, while the Criteria API is powerful, it can be more verbose for simple queries and may not support all HQL features.