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package javax.lang.model.element;

import java.util.List;
import javax.lang.model.type.TypeMirror;
import javax.lang.model.type.TypeVariable;

Represents a formal type parameter of a generic class, interface, method, or constructor element. A type parameter declares a TypeVariable. 
Author:
Joseph D. Darcy, Scott Seligman, Peter von der Ahé
See Also:
TypeVariable
Since:
1.6/**
 * Represents a formal type parameter of a generic class, interface, method,
 * or constructor element.
 * A type parameter declares a {@link TypeVariable}.
 *
 * @author Joseph D. Darcy
 * @author Scott Seligman
 * @author Peter von der Ahé
 * @see TypeVariable
 * @since 1.6
 */
public interface TypeParameterElement extends Element {
    
Returns the type variable corresponding to this type parameter element. 
See Also:
TypeVariable
Returns:
the type variable corresponding to this type parameter element/**
     * Returns the {@linkplain TypeVariable type variable} corresponding to this type parameter element.
     *
     * @see TypeVariable
     *
     * @return the type variable corresponding to this type parameter element
     */
    @Override
    TypeMirror asType();

    
Returns the generic class, interface, method, or constructor that is
parameterized by this type parameter.
Returns:
the generic class, interface, method, or constructor that is
parameterized by this type parameter/**
     * Returns the generic class, interface, method, or constructor that is
     * parameterized by this type parameter.
     *
     * @return the generic class, interface, method, or constructor that is
     * parameterized by this type parameter
     */
    Element getGenericElement();

    
Returns the bounds of this type parameter. These are the types given by the extends clause used to declare this type parameter. If no explicit extends clause was used, then java.lang.Object is considered to be the sole bound. 
Returns:
the bounds of this type parameter, or an empty list if
there are none/**
     * Returns the bounds of this type parameter.
     * These are the types given by the {@code extends} clause
     * used to declare this type parameter.
     * If no explicit {@code extends} clause was used,
     * then {@code java.lang.Object} is considered to be the sole bound.
     *
     * @return the bounds of this type parameter, or an empty list if
     * there are none
     */
    List<? extends TypeMirror> getBounds();

    
Returns the generic element of this type parameter. 
Returns:
the generic element of this type parameter/**
     * Returns the {@linkplain TypeParameterElement#getGenericElement generic element} of this type parameter.
     *
     * @return the generic element of this type parameter
     */
    @Override
    Element getEnclosingElement();
}