org.apache.uima.cas

## Interface Type

-     public interface Type

  The interface describing types in the type system.

  Type names are Java strings that look like Java class names. For example, the built-in annotation type is called `uima.tcas.Annotation`. The whole string is called the (fully) qualified type name. The part after the last period is called the short or base name. The rest of the name is the name space of the type. This part can be empty, in which case the qualified and the base name are identical.

  Type system identifiers in general have the following syntax: they are non-empty strings whose first character is a letter (Unicode letter), followed by an arbitrary sequence of letters, digits and underscores. No other characters are legal parts of identifiers. A type name is then a non-empty sequence of identifiers separated by periods. See also Feature names.

- - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Instance Methods Abstract Methods Deprecated Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `Vector<Feature>` | `getAppropriateFeatures()` Deprecated. Use `getFeatures()` instead.
    `Type` | `getComponentType()` For array types, returns the component type of the array type.
    `Feature` | `getFeatureByBaseName(String featureName)` Retrieve a feature for this type.
    `List<Feature>` | `getFeatures()` Get a vector of the features for which this type is a subtype of the features' domain (i.e., inherited features are also returned).
    `String` | `getName()` Get the fully qualified name of the type.
    `int` | `getNumberOfFeatures()` Get the number of features for which this type defines the domain.
    `String` | `getShortName()` Get the unqualified, short name of this type.
    `boolean` | `isArray()` Check if the type is an array type.
    `boolean` | `isFeatureFinal()` Check if type is feature final, i.e., if no more new features may be defined for it.
    `boolean` | `isInheritanceFinal()` Check if type is inheritance final, i.e., if new types can be derived from it.
    `boolean` | `isPrimitive()` Check if the type is one of the primitive types.

- - ### Method Detail

    - #### getName

          String getName()

      Get the fully qualified name of the type.
      Returns:
        The name of the type.

    - #### getShortName

          String getShortName()

      Get the unqualified, short name of this type.
      Returns:
        The short name of this type.

    - #### getAppropriateFeatures

          @Deprecated
          Vector<Feature> getAppropriateFeatures()

      Deprecated. Use `getFeatures()` instead.
      Get a vector of the features for which this type is a subtype of the features' domain (i.e., inherited features are also returned). If you need to know which type introduces a feature, use `Feature.getDomain`. Features will be listed in no particular order.
      Returns:
        The Vector of features.

    - #### getFeatures

          List<Feature> getFeatures()

      Get a vector of the features for which this type is a subtype of the features' domain (i.e., inherited features are also returned). If you need to know which type introduces a feature, use `Feature.getDomain`. Features will be listed in no particular order.
      Returns:
        The List of features defined for this type.

    - #### getNumberOfFeatures

          int getNumberOfFeatures()

      Get the number of features for which this type defines the domain. This includes inherited features.
      Returns:
        The number of features.

    - #### getFeatureByBaseName

          Feature getFeatureByBaseName(String featureName)

      Retrieve a feature for this type. Inherited features can also be retrieved this way.
      Parameters:
        `featureName` - The short, unqualified name of the feature.
      Returns:
        The feature, if it exists; `null`, else.

    - #### isFeatureFinal

          boolean isFeatureFinal()

      Check if type is feature final, i.e., if no more new features may be defined for it.
      Returns:
        If type is feature final.

    - #### isInheritanceFinal

          boolean isInheritanceFinal()

      Check if type is inheritance final, i.e., if new types can be derived from it.
      Returns:
        If type is inheritance final.

    - #### isPrimitive

          boolean isPrimitive()

      Check if the type is one of the primitive types.
      Returns:
        `true` iff type is a primitive type.

    - #### isArray

          boolean isArray()

      Check if the type is an array type.
      Returns:
        `true` iff the type is an array type.

    - #### getComponentType

          Type getComponentType()

      For array types, returns the component type of the array type. For all other types, it will return `null`.
      Returns:
        The component type of an array type.

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