# ConfigurationContainer

API Documentation: | `ConfigurationContainer`

A `ConfigurationContainer` is responsible for declaring and managing configurations. See also `Configuration`.

You can obtain a `ConfigurationContainer` instance by calling `Project.getConfigurations()`, or using the `configurations` property in your build script.

The configurations in a container are accessible as read-only properties of the container, using the name of the configuration as the property name. For example:

    configurations.create('myConfiguration')
    configurations.myConfiguration.transitive = false

A dynamic method is added for each configuration which takes a configuration closure. This is equivalent to calling `ConfigurationContainer.getByName(java.lang.String, groovy.lang.Closure)`. For example:

    configurations.create('myConfiguration')
    configurations.myConfiguration {
        transitive = false
    }

### Examples

An example showing how to refer to a given configuration by name in order to get hold of all dependencies (e.g. jars, but only)

    apply plugin: 'java' //so that I can use 'compile' configuration

    //copying all dependencies attached to 'compile' into a specific folder
    task copyAllDependencies(type: Copy) {
      //referring to the 'compile' configuration
      from configurations.compile
      into 'allLibs'
    }

An example showing how to declare and configure configurations

    apply plugin: 'java' //so that I can use 'compile', 'testCompile' configurations

    configurations {
      //adding a configuration:
      myConfiguration

      //adding a configuration that extends existing configuration:
      //(testCompile was added by the java plugin)
      myIntegrationTestsCompile.extendsFrom(testCompile)

      //configuring existing configurations not to put transitive dependencies on the compile classpath
      //this way you can avoid issues with implicit dependencies to transitive libraries
      compile.transitive = false
      testCompile.transitive = false
    }

Examples on configuring the resolution strategy - see docs for `ResolutionStrategy` Please see the Managing Dependency Configurations User Guide chapter for more information.

### Properties

No properties

### Methods

Method | Description
`create(name)` | Creates a new item with the given name, adding it to this container.
`create(name, configureClosure)` | Creates a new item with the given name, adding it to this container, then configuring it with the given closure.
`create(name, configureAction)` | Creates a new item with the given name, adding it to this container, then configuring it with the given action.
`detachedConfiguration(dependencies)` | Creates a configuration, but does not add it to this container.
`getAt(name)` | Locates an object by name, failing if there is no such task. This method is identical to `NamedDomainObjectCollection.getByName(java.lang.String)`. You can call this method in your build script by using the groovy `[]` operator.
`getByName(name)` | Locates an object by name, failing if there is no such object.
`getByName(name, configureClosure)` | Locates an object by name, failing if there is no such object. The given configure closure is executed against the object before it is returned from this method. The object is passed to the closure as its delegate.
`getByName(name, configureAction)` | Locates an object by name, failing if there is no such object. The given configure action is executed against the object before it is returned from this method.
`maybeCreate(name)` | Looks for an item with the given name, creating and adding it to this container if it does not exist.
`named(name)` | Locates a object by name, without triggering its creation or configuration, failing if there is no such object.
`named(name, type)` | Locates a object by name and type, without triggering its creation or configuration, failing if there is no such object.
`named(name, type, configurationAction)` | Locates a object by name and type, without triggering its creation or configuration, failing if there is no such object. The given configure action is executed against the object before it is returned from the provider.
`named(name, configurationAction)` | Locates a object by name, without triggering its creation or configuration, failing if there is no such object. The given configure action is executed against the object before it is returned from the provider.
`register(name)` | Defines a new object, which will be created when it is required. A object is 'required' when the object is located using query methods such as `NamedDomainObjectCollection.getByName(java.lang.String)` or when `Provider.get()` is called on the return value of this method.
`register(name, configurationAction)` | Defines a new object, which will be created and configured when it is required. An object is 'required' when the object is located using query methods such as `NamedDomainObjectCollection.getByName(java.lang.String)` or when `Provider.get()` is called on the return value of this method.

### Script blocks

No script blocks

### Method details

#### `T` `create`(`String` name)

Creates a new item with the given name, adding it to this container.

#### `T` `create`(`String` name, `Closure` configureClosure)

Creates a new item with the given name, adding it to this container, then configuring it with the given closure.

#### `T` `create`(`String` name, ``Action`<? super `T`>` configureAction)

Creates a new item with the given name, adding it to this container, then configuring it with the given action.

#### `Configuration` `detachedConfiguration`(``Dependency`...` dependencies)

Creates a configuration, but does not add it to this container.

#### `Configuration` `getAt`(`String` name)

Locates an object by name, failing if there is no such task. This method is identical to `NamedDomainObjectCollection.getByName(java.lang.String)`. You can call this method in your build script by using the groovy `[]` operator.

#### `Configuration` `getByName`(`String` name)

Locates an object by name, failing if there is no such object.

#### `Configuration` `getByName`(`String` name, `Closure` configureClosure)

Locates an object by name, failing if there is no such object. The given configure closure is executed against the object before it is returned from this method. The object is passed to the closure as its delegate.

#### `Configuration` `getByName`(`String` name, ``Action`<? super `Configuration`>` configureAction)

Locates an object by name, failing if there is no such object. The given configure action is executed against the object before it is returned from this method.

#### `T` `maybeCreate`(`String` name)

Looks for an item with the given name, creating and adding it to this container if it does not exist.

#### ``NamedDomainObjectProvider`<`T`>` `named`(`String` name)

Locates a object by name, without triggering its creation or configuration, failing if there is no such object.

#### ``NamedDomainObjectProvider`<`S`>` `named`(`String` name, ``Class`<`S`>` type)

Locates a object by name and type, without triggering its creation or configuration, failing if there is no such object.

#### ``NamedDomainObjectProvider`<`S`>` `named`(`String` name, ``Class`<`S`>` type, ``Action`<? super `S`>` configurationAction)

Locates a object by name and type, without triggering its creation or configuration, failing if there is no such object. The given configure action is executed against the object before it is returned from the provider.

#### ``NamedDomainObjectProvider`<`T`>` `named`(`String` name, ``Action`<? super `T`>` configurationAction)

Locates a object by name, without triggering its creation or configuration, failing if there is no such object. The given configure action is executed against the object before it is returned from the provider.

#### ``NamedDomainObjectProvider`<`T`>` `register`(`String` name)

Defines a new object, which will be created when it is required. A object is 'required' when the object is located using query methods such as `NamedDomainObjectCollection.getByName(java.lang.String)` or when `Provider.get()` is called on the return value of this method.

It is generally more efficient to use this method instead of `NamedDomainObjectContainer.create(java.lang.String)`, as that methods will eagerly create he object, regardless of whether that object is required for the current build or not. This method, on the other hand, will defer creation until required.

#### ``NamedDomainObjectProvider`<`T`>` `register`(`String` name, ``Action`<? super `T`>` configurationAction)

Defines a new object, which will be created and configured when it is required. An object is 'required' when the object is located using query methods such as `NamedDomainObjectCollection.getByName(java.lang.String)` or when `Provider.get()` is called on the return value of this method.

It is generally more efficient to use this method instead of `NamedDomainObjectContainer.create(java.lang.String, org.gradle.api.Action)` or `NamedDomainObjectContainer.create(java.lang.String)`, as those methods will eagerly create and configure the object, regardless of whether that object is required for the current build or not. This method, on the other hand, will defer creation and configuration until required.