
In AOP a pointcut is a set of many joinpoints where an advice can execute. When the program execution is reaches to the one of joint point described in pointcut, a chunk of code (known as Advice) associated with that pointcut executed. This provides the extra flexibility to the programmer to merge an additional code, which is executed in already defined point. It is a key concept of AOP, which distinguishes it from older technology offering interception. Spring supports union, and intersection operation on pointcuts. Union means the method that either pointcut matches. It is more useful pointcut. And Intersection means the method that both pointcuts match.
In the above advices around advice is most general type of advice used in AOP.