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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 class or interface and its members. Note that an enum class and a record class are specialized kinds of classes and an annotation interface is a specialized 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 class or interface and its members. Note * that an enum class and a record class are specialized kinds of * classes and an annotation interface is a specialized 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 class or interface 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 class or interface 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, record components, and member classes and interfaces 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 class.
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 class or interface. For example, if the information about the class or interface is originating from a source file, the elements will be returned in source code order. (However, in that case 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, record components, * and member classes and interfaces 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 class. * * @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 class or interface. * For example, if the information about the class or interface is * originating from a source file, the elements will be returned * in source code order. (However, in that case 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 class or interface element.
Returns:the nesting kind of this class or interface element
/** * Returns the <i>nesting kind</i> of this class or interface element. * * @return the nesting kind of this class or interface element */
NestingKind getNestingKind();
Returns the fully qualified name of this class or interface 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 class or interface 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 classes and interfaces 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 class or interface * element. More precisely, it returns the <i>canonical</i> name. * For local and anonymous classes, which do not have canonical * names, an <a href=Name.html#empty_name>empty name</a> is * returned. * * <p>The name of a generic class or interface 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 classes and interfaces 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 class or interface 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 class or interface element. * * For an anonymous class, an <a href=Name.html#empty_name> empty * name</a> 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 class or interface element. If this class or interface 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 class or interface element. * If this class or interface 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 class or interface element in declaration order.
Returns:the formal type parameters, or an empty list if there are none
/** * Returns the formal type parameters of this class or interface element * in declaration order. * * @return the formal type parameters, or an empty list * if there are none */
List<? extends TypeParameterElement> getTypeParameters();
Returns the record components of this class or interface element in declaration order.
Implementation Requirements:The default implementations of this method returns an empty and unmodifiable list.
Returns:the record components, or an empty list if there are none
Since:16
/** * Returns the record components of this class or interface * element in declaration order. * * @implSpec The default implementations of this method returns an * empty and unmodifiable list. * * @return the record components, or an empty list if there are * none * * @since 16 */
default List<? extends RecordComponentElement> getRecordComponents() { return List.of(); }
{@preview Associated with sealed classes, a preview feature of the Java language. This method is associated with sealed classes, a preview feature of the Java language. Preview features may be removed in a future release, or upgraded to permanent features of the Java language.} Returns the permitted classes of this class or interface element in declaration order.
Implementation Requirements:The default implementations of this method returns an empty and unmodifiable list.
Returns:the permitted classes, or an empty list if there are none
Since:15
/** * {@preview Associated with sealed classes, a preview feature of the Java language. * * This method is associated with <i>sealed classes</i>, a preview * feature of the Java language. Preview features * may be removed in a future release, or upgraded to permanent * features of the Java language.} * Returns the permitted classes of this class or interface * element in declaration order. * * @implSpec The default implementations of this method returns an * empty and unmodifiable list. * * @return the permitted classes, or an empty list if there are none * * @since 15 */
@jdk.internal.PreviewFeature(feature=jdk.internal.PreviewFeature.Feature.SEALED_CLASSES, essentialAPI=false) default List<? extends TypeMirror> getPermittedSubclasses() { return List.of(); }
Returns the package of a top-level class or interface and returns the immediately lexically enclosing element for a nested class or interface.
Returns:the package of a top-level class or interface, the immediately lexically enclosing element for a nested class or interface
/** * Returns the package of a top-level class or interface and * returns the immediately lexically enclosing element for a * {@linkplain NestingKind#isNested nested} class or interface. * * @return the package of a top-level class or interface, the immediately * lexically enclosing element for a nested class or interface */
@Override Element getEnclosingElement(); }