How do Spring proxies work, and why can self-invocation bypass advice?

Explains proxy interception, target delegation, JDK versus class proxies, method limits, and the self-invocation boundary.

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TL;DR

Spring AOP commonly gives callers a proxy that intercepts eligible method calls and delegates to the target bean. A JDK dynamic proxy exposes interfaces, while a class-based proxy subclasses the target. Once execution is inside the target, a call such as this.otherMethod() goes directly to the same object, not back through the proxy, so advice on otherMethod is bypassed. This is why annotations backed by proxy advice can appear ineffective during self-invocation.

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The runtime model behind Spring AOP features and a practical explanation for advice that appears not to run.

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Advice runs when a call crosses the Spring proxy; a direct call on the target's this reference does not cross it again.
Spring AOP commonly gives callers a proxy that intercepts eligible method calls and delegates to the target bean. A JDK dynamic proxy exposes interfaces, while a class-based proxy subclasses the target. Once execution is inside the target, a call such as this.otherMethod() goes directly to the same object, not back through the proxy, so advice on otherMethod is bypassed. This is why annotations backed by proxy advice can appear ineffective during self-invocation.
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Assuming every internal method call returns through the proxy.
Putting advice on private or final methods without checking proxy type.
Creating the target manually and expecting container advice.

How do Spring proxies work, and why can self-invocation bypass advice?

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