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package java.security.cert;

A specification of the result of a certification path builder algorithm. All results returned by the 
CertPathBuilder.build method must implement this interface. 
 At a minimum, a CertPathBuilderResult contains the CertPath built by the CertPathBuilder instance. Implementations of this interface may add methods to return implementation or algorithm specific information, such as debugging information or certification path validation results. 

Concurrent Access

Unless otherwise specified, the methods defined in this interface are not
thread-safe. Multiple threads that need to access a single
object concurrently should synchronize amongst themselves and
provide the necessary locking. Multiple threads each manipulating
separate objects need not synchronize.
Author:
     Sean Mullan
See Also:
CertPathBuilder
Since:
      1.4/**
 * A specification of the result of a certification path builder algorithm.
 * All results returned by the {@link CertPathBuilder#build
 * CertPathBuilder.build} method must implement this interface.
 * <p>
 * At a minimum, a {@code CertPathBuilderResult} contains the
 * {@code CertPath} built by the {@code CertPathBuilder} instance.
 * Implementations of this interface may add methods to return implementation
 * or algorithm specific information, such as debugging information or
 * certification path validation results.
 * <p>
 * <b>Concurrent Access</b>
 * <p>
 * Unless otherwise specified, the methods defined in this interface are not
 * thread-safe. Multiple threads that need to access a single
 * object concurrently should synchronize amongst themselves and
 * provide the necessary locking. Multiple threads each manipulating
 * separate objects need not synchronize.
 *
 * @see CertPathBuilder
 *
 * @since       1.4
 * @author      Sean Mullan
 */
public interface CertPathBuilderResult extends Cloneable {

    
Returns the built certification path.
Returns:
the certification path (never null)/**
     * Returns the built certification path.
     *
     * @return the certification path (never {@code null})
     */
    CertPath getCertPath();

    
Makes a copy of this CertPathBuilderResult. Changes to the copy will not affect the original and vice versa. 
Returns:
a copy of this CertPathBuilderResult/**
     * Makes a copy of this {@code CertPathBuilderResult}. Changes to the
     * copy will not affect the original and vice versa.
     *
     * @return a copy of this {@code CertPathBuilderResult}
     */
    Object clone();
}