Mastering Java Persistence API (JPA) by Nisha Parameswaran Kurur [Paperback]

"Mastering Java Persistence API (JPA)" by Nisha Parameswaran Kurur is a comprehensive guidebook aimed at developers looking to deepen their understanding and proficiency in using JPA for data persistence in Java applications. The book covers essential concepts, advanced techniques, and best practices for effectively leveraging JPA to interact with databases and manage entities.

Key topics covered in the book include:

1. **Introduction to JPA**: A foundational overview of the Java Persistence API, its architecture, and its role in simplifying database access and management within Java applications.

2. **Entity Mapping**: Techniques for mapping Java classes (entities) to database tables using annotations such as @Entity, @Table, @Column, and managing relationships between entities.

3. **Entity Lifecycle**: Understanding the lifecycle of JPA entities, including states (transient, persistent, detached), entity listeners, and callback methods (such as @PrePersist, @PostLoad).

4. **Querying with JPA**: Writing and executing queries using JPQL (Java Persistence Query Language), including complex queries, aggregate functions, joins, and using criteria queries.

5. **Advanced Mapping**: Handling inheritance strategies (single table, joined, table per class hierarchy), embedded objects, collections (such as @OneToMany, @ManyToMany), and mapping enums.

6. **Transactions and Concurrency**: Managing transactions with JPA, ensuring data consistency, handling concurrency issues, and using optimistic and pessimistic locking strategies.

7. **Performance Optimization**: Techniques for optimizing JPA performance, including batch processing, lazy loading, fetching strategies (eager vs. lazy), and tuning database interactions.

8. **Integration with Spring and Java EE**: Integrating JPA with Spring Framework and Java EE containers, configuring data sources, transaction management, and dependency injection.

9. **Testing and Debugging**: Best practices for testing JPA entities and queries, writing unit tests with embedded databases (like H2), and debugging common issues.

10. **JPA Providers and Tools**: Overview of popular JPA providers (like Hibernate, EclipseLink) and tools (like JPA Console, JPA metamodel generation tools) for development and debugging.

Throughout the book, Nisha Parameswaran Kurur combines theoretical explanations with practical examples, code snippets, and tips to help readers master JPA concepts and apply them effectively in real-world Java applications. It serves as a valuable resource for Java developers, software engineers, and architects seeking to enhance their skills in building robust and scalable applications with JPA.