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package java.net;

This class represents a Network Interface address. In short it's an IP address, a subnet mask and a broadcast address when the address is an IPv4 one. An IP address and a network prefix length in the case of IPv6 address.
See Also:
  • NetworkInterface
Since:1.6
/** * This class represents a Network Interface address. In short it's an * IP address, a subnet mask and a broadcast address when the address is * an IPv4 one. An IP address and a network prefix length in the case * of IPv6 address. * * @see java.net.NetworkInterface * @since 1.6 */
public class InterfaceAddress { private InetAddress address = null; private Inet4Address broadcast = null; private short maskLength = 0; /* * Package private constructor. Can't be built directly, instances are * obtained through the NetworkInterface class. */ InterfaceAddress() { }
Returns an InetAddress for this address.
Returns:the InetAddress for this address.
/** * Returns an {@code InetAddress} for this address. * * @return the {@code InetAddress} for this address. */
public InetAddress getAddress() { return address; }
Returns an InetAddress for the broadcast address for this InterfaceAddress.

Only IPv4 networks have broadcast address therefore, in the case of an IPv6 network, null will be returned.

Returns:the InetAddress representing the broadcast address or null if there is no broadcast address.
/** * Returns an {@code InetAddress} for the broadcast address * for this InterfaceAddress. * <p> * Only IPv4 networks have broadcast address therefore, in the case * of an IPv6 network, {@code null} will be returned. * * @return the {@code InetAddress} representing the broadcast * address or {@code null} if there is no broadcast address. */
public InetAddress getBroadcast() { return broadcast; }
Returns the network prefix length for this address. This is also known as the subnet mask in the context of IPv4 addresses. Typical IPv4 values would be 8 (255.0.0.0), 16 (255.255.0.0) or 24 (255.255.255.0).

Typical IPv6 values would be 128 (::1/128) or 10 (fe80::203:baff:fe27:1243/10)

Returns:a short representing the prefix length for the subnet of that address.
/** * Returns the network prefix length for this address. This is also known * as the subnet mask in the context of IPv4 addresses. * Typical IPv4 values would be 8 (255.0.0.0), 16 (255.255.0.0) * or 24 (255.255.255.0). <p> * Typical IPv6 values would be 128 (::1/128) or 10 (fe80::203:baff:fe27:1243/10) * * @return a {@code short} representing the prefix length for the * subnet of that address. */
public short getNetworkPrefixLength() { return maskLength; }
Compares this object against the specified object. The result is true if and only if the argument is not null and it represents the same interface address as this object.

Two instances of InterfaceAddress represent the same address if the InetAddress, the prefix length and the broadcast are the same for both.

Params:
  • obj – the object to compare against.
See Also:
Returns: true if the objects are the same; false otherwise.
/** * Compares this object against the specified object. * The result is {@code true} if and only if the argument is * not {@code null} and it represents the same interface address as * this object. * <p> * Two instances of {@code InterfaceAddress} represent the same * address if the InetAddress, the prefix length and the broadcast are * the same for both. * * @param obj the object to compare against. * @return {@code true} if the objects are the same; * {@code false} otherwise. * @see java.net.InterfaceAddress#hashCode() */
public boolean equals(Object obj) { if (!(obj instanceof InterfaceAddress)) { return false; } InterfaceAddress cmp = (InterfaceAddress) obj; if ( !(address == null ? cmp.address == null : address.equals(cmp.address)) ) return false; if ( !(broadcast == null ? cmp.broadcast == null : broadcast.equals(cmp.broadcast)) ) return false; if (maskLength != cmp.maskLength) return false; return true; }
Returns a hashcode for this Interface address.
Returns: a hash code value for this Interface address.
/** * Returns a hashcode for this Interface address. * * @return a hash code value for this Interface address. */
public int hashCode() { return address.hashCode() + ((broadcast != null) ? broadcast.hashCode() : 0) + maskLength; }
Converts this Interface address to a String. The string returned is of the form: InetAddress / prefix length [ broadcast address ].
Returns: a string representation of this Interface address.
/** * Converts this Interface address to a {@code String}. The * string returned is of the form: InetAddress / prefix length [ broadcast address ]. * * @return a string representation of this Interface address. */
public String toString() { return address + "/" + maskLength + " [" + broadcast + "]"; } }