4.21. BeanContext Configuration

By default, every bean in the Smooks configuration except the first one is removed from the BeanContext after the fragment that created the bean (createOnElement) is processed. (In other words, the bean is added to the BeanContext on the start/visitBefore of the createOnElement fragment, and is removed from the BeanContext at the end/visitAfter.)

By default, this rule applies to all but the first bean configured in the Smooks configuration. (The first bean is the only bean that is retained in the BeanContext, and so can be accessed after the message has been processed.)

To change this behaviour, use the jb:bean element's retain configuration attribute. This attribute allows you to manually control bean retention within the Smooks BeanContext.