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package javax.script;

import java.util.List;

ScriptEngineFactory is used to describe and instantiate ScriptEngines.

Each class implementing ScriptEngine has a corresponding factory that exposes metadata describing the engine class.

The ScriptEngineManager uses the service provider mechanism described in the Jar File Specification to obtain instances of all ScriptEngineFactories available in the current ClassLoader.
Since:1.6
/** * <code>ScriptEngineFactory</code> is used to describe and instantiate * <code>ScriptEngines</code>. * <br><br> * Each class implementing <code>ScriptEngine</code> has a corresponding factory * that exposes metadata describing the engine class. * <br><br>The <code>ScriptEngineManager</code> * uses the service provider mechanism described in the <i>Jar File Specification</i> to obtain * instances of all <code>ScriptEngineFactories</code> available in * the current ClassLoader. * * @since 1.6 */
public interface ScriptEngineFactory {
Returns the full name of the ScriptEngine. For instance an implementation based on the Mozilla Rhino Javascript engine might return Rhino Mozilla Javascript Engine.
Returns:The name of the engine implementation.
/** * Returns the full name of the <code>ScriptEngine</code>. For * instance an implementation based on the Mozilla Rhino Javascript engine * might return <i>Rhino Mozilla Javascript Engine</i>. * @return The name of the engine implementation. */
public String getEngineName();
Returns the version of the ScriptEngine.
Returns:The ScriptEngine implementation version.
/** * Returns the version of the <code>ScriptEngine</code>. * @return The <code>ScriptEngine</code> implementation version. */
public String getEngineVersion();
Returns an immutable list of filename extensions, which generally identify scripts written in the language supported by this ScriptEngine. The array is used by the ScriptEngineManager to implement its getEngineByExtension method.
Returns:The list of extensions.
/** * Returns an immutable list of filename extensions, which generally identify scripts * written in the language supported by this <code>ScriptEngine</code>. * The array is used by the <code>ScriptEngineManager</code> to implement its * <code>getEngineByExtension</code> method. * @return The list of extensions. */
public List<String> getExtensions();
Returns an immutable list of mimetypes, associated with scripts that can be executed by the engine. The list is used by the ScriptEngineManager class to implement its getEngineByMimetype method.
Returns:The list of mime types.
/** * Returns an immutable list of mimetypes, associated with scripts that * can be executed by the engine. The list is used by the * <code>ScriptEngineManager</code> class to implement its * <code>getEngineByMimetype</code> method. * @return The list of mime types. */
public List<String> getMimeTypes();
Returns an immutable list of short names for the ScriptEngine, which may be used to identify the ScriptEngine by the ScriptEngineManager. For instance, an implementation based on the Mozilla Rhino Javascript engine might return list containing {"javascript", "rhino"}.
/** * Returns an immutable list of short names for the <code>ScriptEngine</code>, which may be used to * identify the <code>ScriptEngine</code> by the <code>ScriptEngineManager</code>. * For instance, an implementation based on the Mozilla Rhino Javascript engine might * return list containing {&quot;javascript&quot;, &quot;rhino&quot;}. */
public List<String> getNames();
Returns the name of the scripting language supported by this ScriptEngine.
Returns:The name of the supported language.
/** * Returns the name of the scripting language supported by this * <code>ScriptEngine</code>. * @return The name of the supported language. */
public String getLanguageName();
Returns the version of the scripting language supported by this ScriptEngine.
Returns:The version of the supported language.
/** * Returns the version of the scripting language supported by this * <code>ScriptEngine</code>. * @return The version of the supported language. */
public String getLanguageVersion();
Returns the value of an attribute whose meaning may be implementation-specific. Keys for which the value is defined in all implementations are:
  • ScriptEngine.ENGINE
  • ScriptEngine.ENGINE_VERSION
  • ScriptEngine.NAME
  • ScriptEngine.LANGUAGE
  • ScriptEngine.LANGUAGE_VERSION

The values for these keys are the Strings returned by getEngineName, getEngineVersion, getName, getLanguageName and getLanguageVersion respectively.

A reserved key, THREADING, whose value describes the behavior of the engine with respect to concurrent execution of scripts and maintenance of state is also defined. These values for the THREADING key are:

  • null - The engine implementation is not thread safe, and cannot be used to execute scripts concurrently on multiple threads.
  • "MULTITHREADED" - The engine implementation is internally thread-safe and scripts may execute concurrently although effects of script execution on one thread may be visible to scripts on other threads.
  • "THREAD-ISOLATED" - The implementation satisfies the requirements of "MULTITHREADED", and also, the engine maintains independent values for symbols in scripts executing on different threads.
  • "STATELESS" - The implementation satisfies the requirements of
  • "THREAD-ISOLATED". In addition, script executions do not alter the mappings in the Bindings which is the engine scope of the ScriptEngine. In particular, the keys in the Bindings and their associated values are the same before and after the execution of the script.


Implementations may define implementation-specific keys.
Params:
  • key – The name of the parameter
Returns:The value for the given parameter. Returns null if no value is assigned to the key.
/** * Returns the value of an attribute whose meaning may be implementation-specific. * Keys for which the value is defined in all implementations are: * <ul> * <li>ScriptEngine.ENGINE</li> * <li>ScriptEngine.ENGINE_VERSION</li> * <li>ScriptEngine.NAME</li> * <li>ScriptEngine.LANGUAGE</li> * <li>ScriptEngine.LANGUAGE_VERSION</li> * </ul> * <p> * The values for these keys are the Strings returned by <code>getEngineName</code>, * <code>getEngineVersion</code>, <code>getName</code>, <code>getLanguageName</code> and * <code>getLanguageVersion</code> respectively.<br><br> * A reserved key, <code><b>THREADING</b></code>, whose value describes the behavior of the engine * with respect to concurrent execution of scripts and maintenance of state is also defined. * These values for the <code><b>THREADING</b></code> key are:<br><br> * <ul> * <li><code>null</code> - The engine implementation is not thread safe, and cannot * be used to execute scripts concurrently on multiple threads. * <li><code>&quot;MULTITHREADED&quot;</code> - The engine implementation is internally * thread-safe and scripts may execute concurrently although effects of script execution * on one thread may be visible to scripts on other threads. * <li><code>&quot;THREAD-ISOLATED&quot;</code> - The implementation satisfies the requirements * of &quot;MULTITHREADED&quot;, and also, the engine maintains independent values * for symbols in scripts executing on different threads. * <li><code>&quot;STATELESS&quot;</code> - The implementation satisfies the requirements of * <li><code>&quot;THREAD-ISOLATED&quot;</code>. In addition, script executions do not alter the * mappings in the <code>Bindings</code> which is the engine scope of the * <code>ScriptEngine</code>. In particular, the keys in the <code>Bindings</code> * and their associated values are the same before and after the execution of the script. * </ul> * <br><br> * Implementations may define implementation-specific keys. * * @param key The name of the parameter * @return The value for the given parameter. Returns <code>null</code> if no * value is assigned to the key. * */
public Object getParameter(String key);
Returns a String which can be used to invoke a method of a Java object using the syntax of the supported scripting language. For instance, an implementation for a Javascript engine might be;


public String getMethodCallSyntax(String obj,
                                  String m, String... args) {
     String ret = obj;
     ret += "." + m + "(";
     for (int i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
         ret += args[i];
         if (i < args.length - 1) {
             ret += ",";
         }
     }
     ret += ")";
     return ret;
 }
 

Params:
  • obj – The name representing the object whose method is to be invoked. The name is the one used to create bindings using the put method of ScriptEngine, the put method of an ENGINE_SCOPE Bindings,or the setAttribute method of ScriptContext. The identifier used in scripts may be a decorated form of the specified one.
  • m – The name of the method to invoke.
  • args – names of the arguments in the method call.
Returns:The String used to invoke the method in the syntax of the scripting language.
/** * Returns a String which can be used to invoke a method of a Java object using the syntax * of the supported scripting language. For instance, an implementation for a Javascript * engine might be; * <p> * <pre>{@code * public String getMethodCallSyntax(String obj, * String m, String... args) { * String ret = obj; * ret += "." + m + "("; * for (int i = 0; i < args.length; i++) { * ret += args[i]; * if (i < args.length - 1) { * ret += ","; * } * } * ret += ")"; * return ret; * } * } </pre> * <p> * * @param obj The name representing the object whose method is to be invoked. The * name is the one used to create bindings using the <code>put</code> method of * <code>ScriptEngine</code>, the <code>put</code> method of an <code>ENGINE_SCOPE</code> * <code>Bindings</code>,or the <code>setAttribute</code> method * of <code>ScriptContext</code>. The identifier used in scripts may be a decorated form of the * specified one. * * @param m The name of the method to invoke. * @param args names of the arguments in the method call. * * @return The String used to invoke the method in the syntax of the scripting language. */
public String getMethodCallSyntax(String obj, String m, String... args);
Returns a String that can be used as a statement to display the specified String using the syntax of the supported scripting language. For instance, the implementation for a Perl engine might be;


public String getOutputStatement(String toDisplay) {
     return "print(" + toDisplay + ")";
}
Params:
  • toDisplay – The String to be displayed by the returned statement.
Returns:The string used to display the String in the syntax of the scripting language.
/** * Returns a String that can be used as a statement to display the specified String using * the syntax of the supported scripting language. For instance, the implementation for a Perl * engine might be; * <p> * <pre><code> * public String getOutputStatement(String toDisplay) { * return "print(" + toDisplay + ")"; * } * </code></pre> * * @param toDisplay The String to be displayed by the returned statement. * @return The string used to display the String in the syntax of the scripting language. * * */
public String getOutputStatement(String toDisplay);
Returns a valid scripting language executable program with given statements. For instance an implementation for a PHP engine might be:


public String getProgram(String... statements) {
     String retval = "<?\n";
     int len = statements.length;
     for (int i = 0; i < len; i++) {
         retval += statements[i] + ";\n";
     }
     return retval += "?>";
 }
@param statements The statements to be executed. May be return values of calls to the getMethodCallSyntax and getOutputStatement methods. @return The Program
/** * Returns a valid scripting language executable program with given statements. * For instance an implementation for a PHP engine might be: * <p> * <pre>{@code * public String getProgram(String... statements) { * String retval = "<?\n"; * int len = statements.length; * for (int i = 0; i < len; i++) { * retval += statements[i] + ";\n"; * } * return retval += "?>"; * } * }</pre> * * @param statements The statements to be executed. May be return values of * calls to the <code>getMethodCallSyntax</code> and <code>getOutputStatement</code> methods. * @return The Program */
public String getProgram(String... statements);
Returns an instance of the ScriptEngine associated with this ScriptEngineFactory. A new ScriptEngine is generally returned, but implementations may pool, share or reuse engines.
Returns:A new ScriptEngine instance.
/** * Returns an instance of the <code>ScriptEngine</code> associated with this * <code>ScriptEngineFactory</code>. A new ScriptEngine is generally * returned, but implementations may pool, share or reuse engines. * * @return A new <code>ScriptEngine</code> instance. */
public ScriptEngine getScriptEngine(); }