/*
* @(#)Attribute.java 1.6 05/11/17
*
* Copyright 2006 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved.
* SUN PROPRIETARY/CONFIDENTIAL. Use is subject to license terms.
*/
package javax.print.attribute;
import java.io.Serializable;
/**
* Interface Attribute is the base interface implemented by any and every
* printing attribute class to indicate that the class represents a
* printing attribute. All printing attributes are serializable.
* <P>
*
* @author David Mendenhall
* @author Alan Kaminsky
*/
public interface Attribute extends Serializable {
/**
* Get the printing attribute class which is to be used as the "category"
* for this printing attribute value when it is added to an attribute set.
*
* @return Printing attribute class (category), an instance of class
* {@link java.lang.Class java.lang.Class}.
*/
public Class<? extends Attribute> getCategory();
/**
* Get the name of the category of which this attribute value is an
* instance.
* <P>
* <I>Note:</I> This method is intended to provide a default, nonlocalized
* string for the attribute's category. If two attribute objects return the
* same category from the <CODE>getCategory()</CODE> method, they should
* return the same name from the <CODE>getName()</CODE> method.
*
* @return Attribute category name.
*/
public String getName();
}