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package javax.lang.model.element;

import java.util.List;
import javax.lang.model.type.*;
import javax.lang.model.util.*;


Represents a class or interface program element.  Provides access
to information about the type and its members.  Note that an enum
type is a kind of class and an annotation type is a kind of
interface.

 While a TypeElement represents a class or interface element, a DeclaredType represents a class or interface type, the latter being a use
(or invocation) of the former. The distinction is most apparent with generic types, for which a single element can define a whole family of types. For example, the element java.util.Set corresponds to the parameterized types java.util.Set<String> and java.util.Set<Number> (and many others), and to the raw type java.util.Set. 
 Each method of this interface that returns a list of elements
will return them in the order that is natural for the underlying
source of program information.  For example, if the underlying
source of information is Java source code, then the elements will be
returned in source code order.

Author:Joseph D. Darcy, Scott Seligman, Peter von der Ahé
See Also:
Since:1.6
/**
 * Represents a class or interface program element.  Provides access
 * to information about the type and its members.  Note that an enum
 * type is a kind of class and an annotation type is a kind of
 * interface.
 *
 * <p> While a {@code TypeElement} represents a class or interface
 * <i>element</i>, a {@link DeclaredType} represents a class
 * or interface <i>type</i>, the latter being a use
 * (or <i>invocation</i>) of the former.
 * The distinction is most apparent with generic types,
 * for which a single element can define a whole
 * family of types.  For example, the element
 * {@code java.util.Set} corresponds to the parameterized types
 * {@code java.util.Set<String>} and {@code java.util.Set<Number>}
 * (and many others), and to the raw type {@code java.util.Set}.
 *
 * <p> Each method of this interface that returns a list of elements
 * will return them in the order that is natural for the underlying
 * source of program information.  For example, if the underlying
 * source of information is Java source code, then the elements will be
 * returned in source code order.
 *
 * @author Joseph D. Darcy
 * @author Scott Seligman
 * @author Peter von der Ah&eacute;
 * @see DeclaredType
 * @since 1.6
 */
public interface TypeElement extends Element, Parameterizable, QualifiedNameable {
    
Returns the type defined by this type element, returning the
prototypical type for an element representing a generic type.

A generic element defines a family of types, not just one. If this is a generic element, a prototypical type is returned which has the element's invocation on the type variables corresponding to its own formal type parameters. For example, for the generic class element C<N extends Number>, the parameterized type C<N> is returned. The Types utility interface has more general methods for obtaining the full range of types defined by an element. 
See Also:
Returns:the type defined by this type element
/**
     * Returns the type defined by this type element, returning the
     * <i>prototypical</i> type for an element representing a generic type.
     *
     * <p>A generic element defines a family of types, not just one.
     * If this is a generic element, a prototypical type is
     * returned which has the element's invocation on the
     * type variables corresponding to its own formal type parameters.
     * For example,
     * for the generic class element {@code C<N extends Number>},
     * the parameterized type {@code C<N>} is returned.
     * The {@link Types} utility interface has more general methods
     * for obtaining the full range of types defined by an element.
     *
     * @return the type defined by this type element
     *
     * @see Types#asMemberOf(DeclaredType, Element)
     * @see Types#getDeclaredType(TypeElement, TypeMirror...)
     */
    @Override
    TypeMirror asType();

    
Returns the fields, methods, constructors, and member types that are directly declared in this class or interface. This includes any 
mandated elements such as the (implicit) default constructor and the implicit values and valueOf methods of an enum type. 
API Note:As a particular instance of the general accuracy requirements and the ordering behavior required of this interface, the list of enclosed elements will be returned in the natural order for the originating source of information about the type. For example, if the information about the type is originating from a source file, the elements will be returned in source code order. (However, in that case the the ordering of implicitly declared elements, such as default constructors, is not specified.)
Returns:the enclosed elements in proper order, or an empty list if none
@jls8.8.9 Default Constructor
@jls8.9.3 Enum Members
/**
     * Returns the fields, methods, constructors, and member types
     * that are directly declared in this class or interface.
     *
     * This includes any {@linkplain Elements.Origin#MANDATED
     * mandated} elements such as the (implicit) default constructor
     * and the implicit {@code values} and {@code valueOf} methods of
     * an enum type.
     *
     * @apiNote As a particular instance of the {@linkplain
     * javax.lang.model.element general accuracy requirements} and the
     * ordering behavior required of this interface, the list of
     * enclosed elements will be returned in the natural order for the
     * originating source of information about the type.  For example,
     * if the information about the type is originating from a source
     * file, the elements will be returned in source code order.
     * (However, in that case the the ordering of {@linkplain
     * Elements.Origin#MANDATED implicitly declared} elements, such as
     * default constructors, is not specified.)
     *
     * @return the enclosed elements in proper order, or an empty list if none
     *
     * @jls 8.8.9 Default Constructor
     * @jls 8.9.3 Enum Members
     */
    @Override
    List<? extends Element> getEnclosedElements();

    
Returns the nesting kind of this type element.

Returns:the nesting kind of this type element
/**
     * Returns the <i>nesting kind</i> of this type element.
     *
     * @return the nesting kind of this type element
     */
    NestingKind getNestingKind();

    
Returns the fully qualified name of this type element.
More precisely, it returns the canonical name.
For local and anonymous classes, which do not have canonical names,
an empty name is returned.

The name of a generic type does not include any reference to its formal type parameters. For example, the fully qualified name of the interface java.util.Set<E> is "java.util.Set". Nested types use "." as a separator, as in "java.util.Map.Entry". 
See Also:
Returns:the fully qualified name of this class or interface, or
an empty name if none
@jls6.7 Fully Qualified Names and Canonical Names
/**
     * Returns the fully qualified name of this type element.
     * More precisely, it returns the <i>canonical</i> name.
     * For local and anonymous classes, which do not have canonical names,
     * an empty name is returned.
     *
     * <p>The name of a generic type does not include any reference
     * to its formal type parameters.
     * For example, the fully qualified name of the interface
     * {@code java.util.Set<E>} is "{@code java.util.Set}".
     * Nested types use "{@code .}" as a separator, as in
     * "{@code java.util.Map.Entry}".
     *
     * @return the fully qualified name of this class or interface, or
     * an empty name if none
     *
     * @see Elements#getBinaryName
     * @jls 6.7 Fully Qualified Names and Canonical Names
     */
    Name getQualifiedName();

    
Returns the simple name of this type element.
For an anonymous class, an empty name is returned.

Returns:the simple name of this class or interface,
an empty name for an anonymous class
/**
     * Returns the simple name of this type element.
     *
     * For an anonymous class, an empty name is returned.
     *
     * @return the simple name of this class or interface,
     * an empty name for an anonymous class
     *
     */
    @Override
    Name getSimpleName();

    
Returns the direct superclass of this type element. If this type element represents an interface or the class java.lang.Object, then a NoType with kind NONE is returned. 
Returns:the direct superclass, or a NoType if there is none
/**
     * Returns the direct superclass of this type element.
     * If this type element represents an interface or the class
     * {@code java.lang.Object}, then a {@link NoType}
     * with kind {@link TypeKind#NONE NONE} is returned.
     *
     * @return the direct superclass, or a {@code NoType} if there is none
     */
    TypeMirror getSuperclass();

    
Returns the interface types directly implemented by this class
or extended by this interface.

Returns:the interface types directly implemented by this class
or extended by this interface, or an empty list if there are none
/**
     * Returns the interface types directly implemented by this class
     * or extended by this interface.
     *
     * @return the interface types directly implemented by this class
     * or extended by this interface, or an empty list if there are none
     */
    List<? extends TypeMirror> getInterfaces();

    
Returns the formal type parameters of this type element
in declaration order.

Returns:the formal type parameters, or an empty list
if there are none
/**
     * Returns the formal type parameters of this type element
     * in declaration order.
     *
     * @return the formal type parameters, or an empty list
     * if there are none
     */
    List<? extends TypeParameterElement> getTypeParameters();

    
Returns the package of a top-level type and returns the immediately lexically enclosing element for a nested type. 
Returns:the package of a top-level type, the immediately
lexically enclosing element for a nested type
/**
     * Returns the package of a top-level type and returns the
     * immediately lexically enclosing element for a {@linkplain
     * NestingKind#isNested nested} type.
     *
     * @return the package of a top-level type, the immediately
     * lexically enclosing element for a nested type
     */
    @Override
    Element getEnclosingElement();
}