/*
 * Copyright 2008-present MongoDB, Inc.
 *
 * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
 * You may obtain a copy of the License at
 *
 *   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
 *
 * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
 * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
 * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 * limitations under the License.
 */

package org.bson.codecs.configuration;

import org.bson.codecs.Codec;

A provider of Codec instances. Typically, an instance of a class implementing this interface would be used to construct a CodecRegistry. 
While the CodecProvider interface adds no stipulations to the general contract for the Object.equals, programmers who implement the CodecProvider interface "directly" must exercise care if they choose to override the Object.equals. It is not necessary to do so, and the simplest course of action is to rely on Object's implementation, but the implementer may wish to implement a "value comparison" in place of the default "reference comparison."
Since:
3.0/**
 * A provider of {@code Codec} instances.  Typically, an instance of a class implementing this interface would be used to construct a
 * {@code CodecRegistry}.
 *
 * <p>While the {@code CodecProvider} interface adds no stipulations to the general contract for the Object.equals,
 * programmers who implement the {@code CodecProvider} interface "directly" must exercise care if they choose to override the
 * {@code Object.equals}. It is not necessary to do so, and the simplest course of action is to rely on Object's implementation, but the
 * implementer may wish to implement a "value comparison" in place of the default "reference comparison."</p>
 *
 * @since 3.0
 */
public interface CodecProvider {

    
Get a Codec using the given context, which includes, most importantly, the Class for which a Codec is required. 
Params:
clazz – the Class for which to get a Codec
registry – the registry to use for resolving dependent Codec instances
Type parameters:
<T> – the type of the class for which a Codec is required
Returns:
the Codec instance, which may be null, if this source is unable to provide one for the requested Class/**
     * Get a {@code Codec} using the given context, which includes, most importantly, the Class for which a {@code Codec} is required.
     *
     * @param clazz the Class for which to get a Codec
     * @param registry the registry to use for resolving dependent Codec instances
     * @param <T> the type of the class for which a Codec is required
     * @return the Codec instance, which may be null, if this source is unable to provide one for the requested Class
     */
    <T> Codec<T> get(Class<T> clazz, CodecRegistry registry);
}