Difference between save and saveOrUpdate method hibernate [duplicate]

Question

Normally I had read about save() method generates new identifier for object and only fire INSERT and save it, it does not update it, while saveOrUpdate() method may INSERT or UPDATE record.

But as per my experience, Here I can explains better by sample code,

Suppose there is Class A, and I find record from Table A by

A a = getHibernateTemplate.findById(7); 

So now I get a persistent object,

And now I am trying to save record with save method by simply modifying some of fields,

Now I am firing,

getHibernateTemplate.save(a); 

So it just update existing record, but as per my knowledge it should create new record.

I may be wrong about certian things, can someone clear about this?

Answer 1

save

Save method stores an object into the database. It will Persist the given transient instance, first assigning a generated identifier. It returns the id of the entity created.

Whereas,

SaveOrUpdate()

Calls either save() or update() on the basis of identifier exists or not. e.g if identifier exists, update() will be called or else save() will be called.

There are many more like persist(), merge(), saveOrUpdateCopy(). Almost all are same giving slight different functionality and usability.

For more, you can read this. What are the differences between the different saving methods in Hibernate?