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package jdk.javadoc.doclet;

import java.util.List;
import java.util.Set;

import javax.lang.model.element.Element;

import com.sun.source.doctree.DocTree;

The interface for a custom taglet supported by doclets such as the standard doclet. Custom taglets are used to handle custom tags in documentation comments; custom tags can be instantiated individually as either block tags, which appear at the end of a comment, or inline tags, which can appear within the main body of a documentation comment.

Each implementation of a taglet must provide a public no-argument constructor to be used by doclets to instantiate the taglet. A doclet will interact with classes implementing this interface as follows:

  1. The doclet will create an instance of a taglet using the no-arg constructor of the taglet class.
  2. Next, the doclet calls the init method with an appropriate environment and doclet.
  3. Afterwards, the doclet calls getName, getAllowedLocations, and isInlineTag, to determine the characteristics of the tags supported by the taglet.
  4. As appropriate, the doclet calls the toString method on the taglet object, giving it a list of tags and the element for which the tags are part of the element's documentation comment, from which the taglet can determine the string to be included in the documentation. The doclet will typically specify any requirements on the contents of the string that is returned.

If a taglet object is created and used without the above protocol being followed, then the taglet's behavior is not defined by this interface specification.

See Also:
API Note: It is typical for a taglet to be designed to work in conjunction with a specific doclet.
Since:9
/** * The interface for a custom taglet supported by doclets such as * the {@link jdk.javadoc.doclet.StandardDoclet standard doclet}. * Custom taglets are used to handle custom tags in documentation * comments; custom tags can be instantiated individually as either * <i>block tags</i>, which appear at the end of a comment, * or <i>inline tags</i>, which can appear within the main body of a * documentation comment. * * <p> Each implementation of a taglet must provide a public no-argument constructor * to be used by doclets to instantiate the taglet. A doclet will interact * with classes implementing this interface as follows: * * <ol> * <li> The doclet will create an instance of a taglet using the no-arg * constructor of the taglet class. * <li> Next, the doclet calls the {@link #init(DocletEnvironment,Doclet) init} method with an appropriate environment and doclet. * <li> Afterwards, the doclet calls {@link #getName() getName}, * {@link #getAllowedLocations() getAllowedLocations}, and * {@link #isInlineTag() isInlineTag}, to determine the characteristics * of the tags supported by the taglet. * <li> As appropriate, the doclet calls the * {@link #toString(List,Element) toString} method on the taglet object, * giving it a list of tags and the element for which the tags are part * of the element's documentation comment, from which the taglet can * determine the string to be included in the documentation. * The doclet will typically specify any requirements on the contents of * the string that is returned. * </ol> * * <p>If a taglet object is created and used without the above protocol being * followed, then the taglet's behavior is not defined by this interface * specification. * * @apiNote * It is typical for a taglet to be designed to work in conjunction with a * specific doclet. * * @see <a href="StandardDoclet.html#user-defined-taglets">User-Defined Taglets * for the Standard Doclet</a> * @since 9 */
public interface Taglet {
Returns the set of supported locations for block tags.
Returns:the set of supported locations for block tags
/** * Returns the set of supported locations for block tags. * @return the set of supported locations for block tags */
Set<Location> getAllowedLocations();
Indicates whether this taglet supports inline tags.
Returns:true if this taglet supports inline tags
/** * Indicates whether this taglet supports inline tags. * * @return true if this taglet supports inline tags */
boolean isInlineTag();
Indicates whether this taglet supports block tags.
Returns:true if this taglet supports block tags
Implementation Requirements:This implementation returns the inverse result to isInlineTag.
/** * Indicates whether this taglet supports block tags. * * @return true if this taglet supports block tags * @implSpec This implementation returns the inverse * result to {@code isInlineTag}. */
default boolean isBlockTag() { return !isInlineTag(); }
Returns the name of the tag supported by this taglet.
Returns:the name of this tag
/** * Returns the name of the tag supported by this taglet. * @return the name of this tag */
String getName();
Initializes this taglet with the given doclet environment and doclet.
Params:
  • env – the environment in which the doclet and taglet are running
  • doclet – the doclet that instantiated this taglet
API Note: The environment may be used to access utility classes for elements and types if needed.
Implementation Requirements: This implementation does nothing.
/** * Initializes this taglet with the given doclet environment and doclet. * * @apiNote * The environment may be used to access utility classes for * {@link javax.lang.model.util.Elements elements} and * {@link javax.lang.model.util.Types types} if needed. * * @implSpec * This implementation does nothing. * * @param env the environment in which the doclet and taglet are running * @param doclet the doclet that instantiated this taglet */
default void init(DocletEnvironment env, Doclet doclet) { }
Returns the string representation of a series of instances of this tag to be included in the generated output.

If this taglet supports inline tags, it will be called once per instance of the inline tag, each time with a singleton list. If this taglet supports block tags, it will be called once for each comment containing instances of block tags, with a list of all the instances of the block tag in that comment.

Params:
  • tags – the list of instances of this tag
  • element – the element to which the enclosing comment belongs
See Also:
Returns:the string representation of the tags to be included in the generated output
/** * Returns the string representation of a series of instances of * this tag to be included in the generated output. * * <p>If this taglet supports {@link #isInlineTag inline} tags, it will * be called once per instance of the inline tag, each time with a singleton list. * If this taglet supports {@link #isBlockTag block} tags, it will be called once * for each comment containing instances of block tags, with a list of all the instances * of the block tag in that comment. * * @param tags the list of instances of this tag * @param element the element to which the enclosing comment belongs * @return the string representation of the tags to be included in * the generated output * * @see <a href="StandardDoclet.html#user-defined-taglets">User-Defined Taglets * for the Standard Doclet</a> */
String toString(List<? extends DocTree> tags, Element element);
The kind of location in which a tag may be used.
/** * The kind of location in which a tag may be used. */
enum Location {
In an Overview document.
/** In an Overview document. */
OVERVIEW,
In the documentation for a module.
/** In the documentation for a module. */
MODULE,
In the documentation for a package.
/** In the documentation for a package. */
PACKAGE,
In the documentation for a type, such as a class, interface or enum.
/** In the documentation for a type, such as a class, interface or enum. */
TYPE,
In the documentation for a constructor.
/** In the documentation for a constructor. */
CONSTRUCTOR,
In the documentation for a method.
/** In the documentation for a method. */
METHOD,
In the documentation for a field.
/** In the documentation for a field. */
FIELD } }