This attribute may not be used in conjunction * with {@link #value}, but it may be used instead of @@ -61,7 +62,46 @@ public @interface ActiveProfiles { String[] profiles() default {}; /** - * TODO Document inheritProfiles. + * Whether or not bean definition profiles from superclasses should be + * inherited. + * + *
The default value is true, which means that an annotated
+ * class will inherit bean definition profiles defined by an
+ * annotated superclass. Specifically, the bean definition profiles for an
+ * annotated class will be appended to the list of bean definition profiles
+ * defined by an annotated superclass. Thus, subclasses have the option of
+ * extending the list of bean definition profiles.
+ *
+ *
If inheritProfiles is set to false, the bean
+ * definition profiles for the annotated class will shadow and
+ * effectively replace any bean definition profiles defined by a superclass.
+ *
+ *
In the following examples, the {@code ApplicationContext} for + * {@code BaseTest} will be loaded using only the "base" + * bean definition profile; beans defined in the "extended" profile + * will therefore not be loaded. In contrast, the {@code ApplicationContext} + * for {@code ExtendedTest} will be loaded using the "base" + * and "extended" bean definition profiles. + *
+ * @ActiveProfiles("base")
+ * @ContextConfiguration
+ * public class BaseTest {
+ * // ...
+ * }
+ *
+ * @ActiveProfiles("extended")
+ * @ContextConfiguration
+ * public class ExtendedTest extends BaseTest {
+ * // ...
+ * }
+ *
+ *
+ * Note: {@code @ActiveProfiles} can be used when loading an + * {@code ApplicationContext} from path-based resource locations or + * configuration classes. + * @see ContextConfiguration#locations + * @see ContextConfiguration#classes + * @see ContextConfiguration#inheritLocations */ boolean inheritProfiles() default true;