First, dependent should be compared to cascade=REMOVE rather than (or
in addition to) cascade=ALL.
cascade=REMOVE means "when I remove this parent instance immediately
cascade the remove operation to the referenced instance(s)". It's a
very simple and naïve implementation and its behavior is mandated by
the JPA spec.
Dependent means "at the end of the transaction if the referenced
instance(s) are no longer referenced by this parent and have not been
assigned to any other parent, remove it/them". It's much smarter /
more subtle. For example if you null a dependent relation but don't
delete the parent, the referenced instance(s) will still be deleted
at the end of the transaction, because they are no longer referenced
by the parent (unless of course you assign them to some other parent
in the same transaction).
p.s. Note that dependent != db garbage collection. A dependent
instance that is severed from its parent is deleted at the end of the
transaction unless assigned to another instance in the same
transaction -- we don't search the db to find out if any other parent
not involved in the transaction references the dependent instance
before deleting it._______________________________________________________________________
Notice: This email message, together with any attachments, may contain
information of BEA Systems, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliated
entities, that may be confidential, proprietary, copyrighted and/or
legally privileged, and is intended solely for the use of the individual
or entity named in this message. If you are not the intended recipient,
and have received this message in error, please immediately return this
by email and then delete it.
