43  * The distinction is most apparent with generic types,
  44  * for which a single element can define a whole
  45  * family of types.  For example, the element
  46  * {@code java.util.Set} corresponds to the parameterized types
  47  * {@code java.util.Set<String>} and {@code java.util.Set<Number>}
  48  * (and many others), and to the raw type {@code java.util.Set}.
  49  *
  50  * <p> Each method of this interface that returns a list of elements
  51  * will return them in the order that is natural for the underlying
  52  * source of program information.  For example, if the underlying
  53  * source of information is Java source code, then the elements will be
  54  * returned in source code order.
  55  *
  56  * @author Joseph D. Darcy
  57  * @author Scott Seligman
  58  * @author Peter von der Ah&eacute;
  59  * @see DeclaredType
  60  * @since 1.6
  61  */
  62 public interface TypeElement extends Element, Parameterizable, QualifiedNameable {
















  63 
  64     /**
  65      * Returns the <i>nesting kind</i> of this type element.
  66      *
  67      * @return the nesting kind of this type element
  68      */
  69     NestingKind getNestingKind();
  70 
  71     /**
  72      * Returns the fully qualified name of this type element.
  73      * More precisely, it returns the <i>canonical</i> name.
  74      * For local and anonymous classes, which do not have canonical names,
  75      * an empty name is returned.
  76      *
  77      * <p>The name of a generic type does not include any reference
  78      * to its formal type parameters.
  79      * For example, the fully qualified name of the interface
  80      * {@code java.util.Set<E>} is "{@code java.util.Set}".
  81      * Nested types use "{@code .}" as a separator, as in
  82      * "{@code java.util.Map.Entry}".

  43  * The distinction is most apparent with generic types,
  44  * for which a single element can define a whole
  45  * family of types.  For example, the element
  46  * {@code java.util.Set} corresponds to the parameterized types
  47  * {@code java.util.Set<String>} and {@code java.util.Set<Number>}
  48  * (and many others), and to the raw type {@code java.util.Set}.
  49  *
  50  * <p> Each method of this interface that returns a list of elements
  51  * will return them in the order that is natural for the underlying
  52  * source of program information.  For example, if the underlying
  53  * source of information is Java source code, then the elements will be
  54  * returned in source code order.
  55  *
  56  * @author Joseph D. Darcy
  57  * @author Scott Seligman
  58  * @author Peter von der Ah&eacute;
  59  * @see DeclaredType
  60  * @since 1.6
  61  */
  62 public interface TypeElement extends Element, Parameterizable, QualifiedNameable {
  63     /**
  64      * {@inheritDoc}
  65      *
  66      * <p> Note that as a particular instance of the {@linkplain
  67      * javax.lang.model.element general accuracy requirements} and the
  68      * ordering behavior required of this interface, the list of
  69      * enclosed elements will be returned in the natural order for the
  70      * originating source of information about the type.  For example,
  71      * if the information about the type is originating from a source
  72      * file, the elements will be returned in source code order.
  73      * (However, in that case the the ordering of synthesized
  74      * elements, such as a default constructor, is not specified.)
  75      *
  76      * @return the enclosed elements in proper order, or an empty list if none
  77      */
  78     List<? extends Element> getEnclosedElements();
  79 
  80     /**
  81      * Returns the <i>nesting kind</i> of this type element.
  82      *
  83      * @return the nesting kind of this type element
  84      */
  85     NestingKind getNestingKind();
  86 
  87     /**
  88      * Returns the fully qualified name of this type element.
  89      * More precisely, it returns the <i>canonical</i> name.
  90      * For local and anonymous classes, which do not have canonical names,
  91      * an empty name is returned.
  92      *
  93      * <p>The name of a generic type does not include any reference
  94      * to its formal type parameters.
  95      * For example, the fully qualified name of the interface
  96      * {@code java.util.Set<E>} is "{@code java.util.Set}".
  97      * Nested types use "{@code .}" as a separator, as in
  98      * "{@code java.util.Map.Entry}".