Package org.apache.commons.configuration2.event

# Class EventType<T extends Event>

java.lang.Object
org.apache.commons.configuration2.event.EventType<T>

Type Parameters:
  `T` - the event associated with this type

All Implemented Interfaces:
  `Serializable`

public class EventType<T extends Event> extends Object implements Serializable

A class representing an event type.

The events produced by Commons Configuration all have a specific type. The event type can be used to determine the meaning of a specific event. It also acts as filter criterion when event listeners are registered. The listener is then called only for events of this type or derived types. The events in this library form a natural hierarchy with base types and more specialized types. By specifying an appropriate event type at listener registration time, it can be determined on a fine-granular basis which events are propagated to the listener.

Note: Users familiar with JavaFX probably recognize this approach to event handling. It allows for generic event listener interfaces and a natural selection of events to be processed.

Since:
  2.0
See Also:
  - Serialized Form

- ## Constructor Summary

  Constructors
  Constructor
  Description
  `EventType(EventType<? super T> superEventType, String typeName)`
  Creates a new instance of `EventType` and initializes it with the super type and a type name.

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `static Set<EventType<?>>`
  `fetchSuperEventTypes(EventType<?> eventType)`
  Returns a set with all event types that are super types of the specified type.
  `String`
  `getName()`
  Gets the name of this event type.
  `EventType<? super T>`
  `getSuperType()`
  Gets the super event type.
  `static boolean`
  `isInstanceOf(EventType<?> derivedType, EventType<?> baseType)`
  Checks whether an event type is derived from another type.
  `String`
  `toString()`
  Returns a string representation for this object.

  ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

  `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait`

- ## Constructor Details

  - ### EventType

    public EventType(EventType<? super T> superEventType, String typeName)
    Creates a new instance of `EventType` and initializes it with the super type and a type name. If no super type is specified, this is the root event type.
    Parameters:
      `superEventType` - the super event type
      `typeName` - the name of this event type

- ## Method Details

  - ### fetchSuperEventTypes

    public static Set<EventType<?>> fetchSuperEventTypes(EventType<?> eventType)
    Returns a set with all event types that are super types of the specified type. This set contains the direct and indirect super types and also includes the given type itself. The passed in type may be null, then an empty set is returned.
    Parameters:
      `eventType` - the event type in question
    Returns:
      a set with all super event types

  - ### isInstanceOf

    public static boolean isInstanceOf(EventType<?> derivedType, EventType<?> baseType)
    Checks whether an event type is derived from another type. This implementation tests whether `baseType` is a direct or indirect super type of `derivedType`. If one of the types is null, result is false.
    Parameters:
      `derivedType` - the derived event type
      `baseType` - the base event type
    Returns:
      true if the derived type is an instance of the base type, false otherwise

  - ### getName

    public String getName()
    Gets the name of this event type. The name has no specific semantic meaning. It is just used for debugging purposes and also part of the string representation of this event type.
    Returns:
      the event type name

  - ### getSuperType

    public EventType<? super T> getSuperType()
    Gets the super event type. Result is null for the root event type.
    Returns:
      the super event type

  - ### toString

    public String toString()
    Returns a string representation for this object. This method is mainly overridden for debugging purposes. The returned string contains the name of this event type.
    Overrides:
      `toString` in class `Object`
    Returns:
      a string for this object