/*
 * @(#)Attribute.java	1.5 04/05/05
 *
 * Copyright 2004 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();

}