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      1 /*
      2  * Copyright (c) 2003, 2004, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
      3  * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
      4  *
      5  * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
      6  * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as
      7  * published by the Free Software Foundation.  Oracle designates this
      8  * particular file as subject to the "Classpath" exception as provided
      9  * by Oracle in the LICENSE file that accompanied this code.
     10  *
     11  * This code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
     12  * ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
     13  * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
     14  * version 2 for more details (a copy is included in the LICENSE file that
     15  * accompanied this code).
     16  *
     17  * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License version
     18  * 2 along with this work; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
     19  * Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
     20  *
     21  * Please contact Oracle, 500 Oracle Parkway, Redwood Shores, CA 94065 USA
     22  * or visit www.oracle.com if you need additional information or have any
     23  * questions.
     24  */
     25 
     26 package java.lang.reflect;
     27 
     28 /**
     29  * WildcardType represents a wildcard type expression, such as
     30  * {@code ?}, {@code ? extends Number}, or {@code ? super Integer}.
     31  *
     32  * @since 1.5
     33  */
     34 public interface WildcardType extends Type {
     35     /**
     36      * Returns an array of {@code Type} objects representing the  upper
     37      * bound(s) of this type variable.  Note that if no upper bound is
     38      * explicitly declared, the upper bound is {@code Object}.
     39      *
     40      * <p>For each upper bound B :
     41      * <ul>
     42      *  <li>if B is a parameterized type or a type variable, it is created,
     43      *  (see {@link java.lang.reflect.ParameterizedType ParameterizedType}
     44      *  for the details of the creation process for parameterized types).
     45      *  <li>Otherwise, B is resolved.
     46      * </ul>
     47      *
     48      * @return an array of Types representing the upper bound(s) of this
     49      *     type variable
     50      * @throws TypeNotPresentException if any of the
     51      *     bounds refers to a non-existent type declaration
     52      * @throws MalformedParameterizedTypeException if any of the
     53      *     bounds refer to a parameterized type that cannot be instantiated
     54      *     for any reason
     55      */
     56     Type[] getUpperBounds();
     57 
     58     /**
     59      * Returns an array of {@code Type} objects representing the
     60      * lower bound(s) of this type variable.  Note that if no lower bound is
     61      * explicitly declared, the lower bound is the type of {@code null}.
     62      * In this case, a zero length array is returned.
     63      *
     64      * <p>For each lower bound B :
     65      * <ul>
     66      *   <li>if B is a parameterized type or a type variable, it is created,
     67      *  (see {@link java.lang.reflect.ParameterizedType ParameterizedType}
     68      *  for the details of the creation process for parameterized types).
     69      *   <li>Otherwise, B is resolved.
     70      * </ul>
     71      *
     72      * @return an array of Types representing the lower bound(s) of this
     73      *     type variable
     74      * @throws TypeNotPresentException if any of the
     75      *     bounds refers to a non-existent type declaration
     76      * @throws MalformedParameterizedTypeException if any of the
     77      *     bounds refer to a parameterized type that cannot be instantiated
     78      *     for any reason
     79      */
     80     Type[] getLowerBounds();
     81     // one or many? Up to language spec; currently only one, but this API
     82     // allows for generalization.
     83 }
     84