/**
 * Redistribution and use of this software and associated documentation ("Software"), with or
 * without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
 *
 * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain copyright statements and notices. Redistributions
 * must also contain a copy of this document.
 *
 * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of
 * conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with
 * the distribution.
 *
 * 3. The name "Exolab" must not be used to endorse or promote products derived from this Software
 * without prior written permission of Intalio, Inc. For written permission, please contact
 * info@exolab.org.
 *
 * 4. Products derived from this Software may not be called "Exolab" nor may "Exolab" appear in
 * their names without prior written permission of Intalio, Inc. Exolab is a registered trademark of
 * Intalio, Inc.
 *
 * 5. Due credit should be given to the Exolab Project (http://www.exolab.org/).
 *
 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY INTALIO, INC. AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESSED OR
 * IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
 * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL INTALIO, INC. OR ITS
 * CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
 * DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
 * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY,
 * WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY
 * WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 *
 * Copyright 1999 (C) Intalio, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 *
 * $Id$
 */
package org.exolab.castor.mapping;

import java.util.List;

import org.castor.mapping.BindingType;

/**
 * Provides the mapping descriptor for Java classes. The engines use resolvers to obtain the mapping
 * descriptor for a particular Java class, or to list all the known descriptors. Although the
 * interface is identical, each engine will use a resolver that returns class descriptor suitable
 * for that particular engine. Resolvers are immutable and engines need not cache the returned
 * descriptors.
 *
 * @author <a href="arkin@intalio.com">Assaf Arkin</a>
 * @version $Revision$ $Date: 2003-03-03 00:05:44 -0700 (Mon, 03 Mar 2003) $
 */
public interface MappingLoader {

  BindingType getBindingType();

  String getSourceType();

  void clear();

  void setClassLoader(final ClassLoader loader);

  /**
   * Returns the class loader associated with this mapping loader if one was specified. This is the
   * class loader used to load all the classes mapped by this mapping loader. May be null if no
   * class loader was specified or in certain JVMs.
   */
  ClassLoader getClassLoader();

  /**
   * Returns the ClassDescriptor for the class with the given name. If no such ClassDescriptor
   * exists, within the set of mappings for this MappingLoader, null will be returned.
   *
   * @param classname The className for which to return the associated ClassDescriptor.
   * @return The ClassDescriptor or null if not found.
   */
  ClassDescriptor getDescriptor(String classname);

  /**
   * Returns a List of {@link ClassDescriptor}s of all known descriptors.
   * 
   * @return List of {@link ClassDescriptor}
   */
  List<ClassDescriptor> getDescriptors();
}
