Description: The ‘Application Runner’ in the context of Spring Boot is a functional interface that allows executing specific code once the application context has been loaded. This interface is part of the ‘org.springframework.boot’ package and is primarily used to perform tasks that need to run at application startup, such as initializing data, configuring resources, or executing background processes. Its functional design allows developers to implement custom logic in a simple and concise manner, leveraging Java’s functional programming features. Being a functional interface, it can be used with lambda expressions, simplifying code writing and improving readability. Additionally, the ‘Application Runner’ integrates seamlessly with the Spring application lifecycle, ensuring that the code runs at the right moment, which is crucial for the proper configuration and functioning of the application. This feature is especially valuable in applications where the proper initialization of components and data is essential for system performance and stability.