1 /*
   2  * Copyright (c) 2007, 2013, 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.nio.file;
  27 
  28 import java.io.File;
  29 import java.io.IOException;
  30 import java.net.URI;
  31 import java.util.Iterator;
  32 import java.util.NoSuchElementException;
  33 
  34 /**
  35  * An object that may be used to locate a file in a file system. It will
  36  * typically represent a system dependent file path.
  37  *
  38  * <p> A {@code Path} represents a path that is hierarchical and composed of a
  39  * sequence of directory and file name elements separated by a special separator
  40  * or delimiter. A <em>root component</em>, that identifies a file system
  41  * hierarchy, may also be present. The name element that is <em>farthest</em>
  42  * from the root of the directory hierarchy is the name of a file or directory.
  43  * The other name elements are directory names. A {@code Path} can represent a
  44  * root, a root and a sequence of names, or simply one or more name elements.
  45  * A {@code Path} is considered to be an <i>empty path</i> if it consists
  46  * solely of one name element that is empty. Accessing a file using an
  47  * <i>empty path</i> is equivalent to accessing the default directory of the
  48  * file system. {@code Path} defines the {@link #getFileName() getFileName},
  49  * {@link #getParent getParent}, {@link #getRoot getRoot}, and {@link #subpath
  50  * subpath} methods to access the path components or a subsequence of its name
  51  * elements.
  52  *
  53  * <p> In addition to accessing the components of a path, a {@code Path} also
  54  * defines the {@link #resolve(Path) resolve} and {@link #resolveSibling(Path)
  55  * resolveSibling} methods to combine paths. The {@link #relativize relativize}
  56  * method that can be used to construct a relative path between two paths.
  57  * Paths can be {@link #compareTo compared}, and tested against each other using
  58  * the {@link #startsWith startsWith} and {@link #endsWith endsWith} methods.
  59  *
  60  * <p> This interface extends {@link Watchable} interface so that a directory
  61  * located by a path can be {@link #register registered} with a {@link
  62  * WatchService} and entries in the directory watched. </p>
  63  *
  64  * <p> <b>WARNING:</b> This interface is only intended to be implemented by
  65  * those developing custom file system implementations. Methods may be added to
  66  * this interface in future releases. </p>
  67  *
  68  * <h2>Accessing Files</h2>
  69  * <p> Paths may be used with the {@link Files} class to operate on files,
  70  * directories, and other types of files. For example, suppose we want a {@link
  71  * java.io.BufferedReader} to read text from a file "{@code access.log}". The
  72  * file is located in a directory "{@code logs}" relative to the current working
  73  * directory and is UTF-8 encoded.
  74  * <pre>
  75  *     Path path = FileSystems.getDefault().getPath("logs", "access.log");
  76  *     BufferedReader reader = Files.newBufferedReader(path, StandardCharsets.UTF_8);
  77  * </pre>
  78  *
  79  * <a name="interop"></a><h2>Interoperability</h2>
  80  * <p> Paths associated with the default {@link
  81  * java.nio.file.spi.FileSystemProvider provider} are generally interoperable
  82  * with the {@link java.io.File java.io.File} class. Paths created by other
  83  * providers are unlikely to be interoperable with the abstract path names
  84  * represented by {@code java.io.File}. The {@link java.io.File#toPath toPath}
  85  * method may be used to obtain a {@code Path} from the abstract path name
  86  * represented by a {@code java.io.File} object. The resulting {@code Path} can
  87  * be used to operate on the same file as the {@code java.io.File} object. In
  88  * addition, the {@link #toFile toFile} method is useful to construct a {@code
  89  * File} from the {@code String} representation of a {@code Path}.
  90  *
  91  * <h2>Concurrency</h2>
  92  * <p> Implementations of this interface are immutable and safe for use by
  93  * multiple concurrent threads.
  94  *
  95  * @since 1.7
  96  * @see Paths
  97  */
  98 
  99 public interface Path
 100     extends Comparable<Path>, Iterable<Path>, Watchable
 101 {
 102     /**
 103      * Returns the file system that created this object.
 104      *
 105      * @return  the file system that created this object
 106      */
 107     FileSystem getFileSystem();
 108 
 109     /**
 110      * Tells whether or not this path is absolute.
 111      *
 112      * <p> An absolute path is complete in that it doesn't need to be combined
 113      * with other path information in order to locate a file.
 114      *
 115      * @return  {@code true} if, and only if, this path is absolute
 116      */
 117     boolean isAbsolute();
 118 
 119     /**
 120      * Returns the root component of this path as a {@code Path} object,
 121      * or {@code null} if this path does not have a root component.
 122      *
 123      * @return  a path representing the root component of this path,
 124      *          or {@code null}
 125      */
 126     Path getRoot();
 127 
 128     /**
 129      * Returns the name of the file or directory denoted by this path as a
 130      * {@code Path} object. The file name is the <em>farthest</em> element from
 131      * the root in the directory hierarchy.
 132      *
 133      * @return  a path representing the name of the file or directory, or
 134      *          {@code null} if this path has zero elements
 135      */
 136     Path getFileName();
 137 
 138     /**
 139      * Returns the <em>parent path</em>, or {@code null} if this path does not
 140      * have a parent.
 141      *
 142      * <p> The parent of this path object consists of this path's root
 143      * component, if any, and each element in the path except for the
 144      * <em>farthest</em> from the root in the directory hierarchy. This method
 145      * does not access the file system; the path or its parent may not exist.
 146      * Furthermore, this method does not eliminate special names such as "."
 147      * and ".." that may be used in some implementations. On UNIX for example,
 148      * the parent of "{@code /a/b/c}" is "{@code /a/b}", and the parent of
 149      * {@code "x/y/.}" is "{@code x/y}". This method may be used with the {@link
 150      * #normalize normalize} method, to eliminate redundant names, for cases where
 151      * <em>shell-like</em> navigation is required.
 152      *
 153      * <p> If this path has more than one element, and no root component, then
 154      * this method is equivalent to evaluating the expression:
 155      * <blockquote><pre>
 156      * subpath(0,&nbsp;getNameCount()-1);
 157      * </pre></blockquote>
 158      *
 159      * @return  a path representing the path's parent
 160      */
 161     Path getParent();
 162 
 163     /**
 164      * Returns the number of name elements in the path.
 165      *
 166      * @return  the number of elements in the path, or {@code 0} if this path
 167      *          only represents a root component
 168      */
 169     int getNameCount();
 170 
 171     /**
 172      * Returns a name element of this path as a {@code Path} object.
 173      *
 174      * <p> The {@code index} parameter is the index of the name element to return.
 175      * The element that is <em>closest</em> to the root in the directory hierarchy
 176      * has index {@code 0}. The element that is <em>farthest</em> from the root
 177      * has index {@link #getNameCount count}{@code -1}.
 178      *
 179      * @param   index
 180      *          the index of the element
 181      *
 182      * @return  the name element
 183      *
 184      * @throws  IllegalArgumentException
 185      *          if {@code index} is negative, {@code index} is greater than or
 186      *          equal to the number of elements, or this path has zero name
 187      *          elements
 188      */
 189     Path getName(int index);
 190 
 191     /**
 192      * Returns a relative {@code Path} that is a subsequence of the name
 193      * elements of this path.
 194      *
 195      * <p> The {@code beginIndex} and {@code endIndex} parameters specify the
 196      * subsequence of name elements. The name that is <em>closest</em> to the root
 197      * in the directory hierarchy has index {@code 0}. The name that is
 198      * <em>farthest</em> from the root has index {@link #getNameCount
 199      * count}{@code -1}. The returned {@code Path} object has the name elements
 200      * that begin at {@code beginIndex} and extend to the element at index {@code
 201      * endIndex-1}.
 202      *
 203      * @param   beginIndex
 204      *          the index of the first element, inclusive
 205      * @param   endIndex
 206      *          the index of the last element, exclusive
 207      *
 208      * @return  a new {@code Path} object that is a subsequence of the name
 209      *          elements in this {@code Path}
 210      *
 211      * @throws  IllegalArgumentException
 212      *          if {@code beginIndex} is negative, or greater than or equal to
 213      *          the number of elements. If {@code endIndex} is less than or
 214      *          equal to {@code beginIndex}, or larger than the number of elements.
 215      */
 216     Path subpath(int beginIndex, int endIndex);
 217 
 218     /**
 219      * Tests if this path starts with the given path.
 220      *
 221      * <p> This path <em>starts</em> with the given path if this path's root
 222      * component <em>starts</em> with the root component of the given path,
 223      * and this path starts with the same name elements as the given path.
 224      * If the given path has more name elements than this path then {@code false}
 225      * is returned.
 226      *
 227      * <p> Whether or not the root component of this path starts with the root
 228      * component of the given path is file system specific. If this path does
 229      * not have a root component and the given path has a root component then
 230      * this path does not start with the given path.
 231      *
 232      * <p> If the given path is associated with a different {@code FileSystem}
 233      * to this path then {@code false} is returned.
 234      *
 235      * @param   other
 236      *          the given path
 237      *
 238      * @return  {@code true} if this path starts with the given path; otherwise
 239      *          {@code false}
 240      */
 241     boolean startsWith(Path other);
 242 
 243     /**
 244      * Tests if this path starts with a {@code Path}, constructed by converting
 245      * the given path string, in exactly the manner specified by the {@link
 246      * #startsWith(Path) startsWith(Path)} method. On UNIX for example, the path
 247      * "{@code foo/bar}" starts with "{@code foo}" and "{@code foo/bar}". It
 248      * does not start with "{@code f}" or "{@code fo}".
 249      *
 250      * @implSpec
 251      * The default implementation is equivalent for this path to:
 252      * <pre>{@code
 253      *     startsWith(getFileSystem().getPath(other));
 254      * }</pre>
 255      *
 256      * @param   other
 257      *          the given path string
 258      *
 259      * @return  {@code true} if this path starts with the given path; otherwise
 260      *          {@code false}
 261      *
 262      * @throws  InvalidPathException
 263      *          If the path string cannot be converted to a Path.
 264      */
 265     default boolean startsWith(String other) {
 266         return startsWith(getFileSystem().getPath(other));
 267     }
 268 
 269     /**
 270      * Tests if this path ends with the given path.
 271      *
 272      * <p> If the given path has <em>N</em> elements, and no root component,
 273      * and this path has <em>N</em> or more elements, then this path ends with
 274      * the given path if the last <em>N</em> elements of each path, starting at
 275      * the element farthest from the root, are equal.
 276      *
 277      * <p> If the given path has a root component then this path ends with the
 278      * given path if the root component of this path <em>ends with</em> the root
 279      * component of the given path, and the corresponding elements of both paths
 280      * are equal. Whether or not the root component of this path ends with the
 281      * root component of the given path is file system specific. If this path
 282      * does not have a root component and the given path has a root component
 283      * then this path does not end with the given path.
 284      *
 285      * <p> If the given path is associated with a different {@code FileSystem}
 286      * to this path then {@code false} is returned.
 287      *
 288      * @param   other
 289      *          the given path
 290      *
 291      * @return  {@code true} if this path ends with the given path; otherwise
 292      *          {@code false}
 293      */
 294     boolean endsWith(Path other);
 295 
 296     /**
 297      * Tests if this path ends with a {@code Path}, constructed by converting
 298      * the given path string, in exactly the manner specified by the {@link
 299      * #endsWith(Path) endsWith(Path)} method. On UNIX for example, the path
 300      * "{@code foo/bar}" ends with "{@code foo/bar}" and "{@code bar}". It does
 301      * not end with "{@code r}" or "{@code /bar}". Note that trailing separators
 302      * are not taken into account, and so invoking this method on the {@code
 303      * Path}"{@code foo/bar}" with the {@code String} "{@code bar/}" returns
 304      * {@code true}.
 305      *
 306      * @implSpec
 307      * The default implementation is equivalent for this path to:
 308      * <pre>{@code
 309      *     endsWith(getFileSystem().getPath(other));
 310      * }</pre>
 311      *
 312      * @param   other
 313      *          the given path string
 314      *
 315      * @return  {@code true} if this path ends with the given path; otherwise
 316      *          {@code false}
 317      *
 318      * @throws  InvalidPathException
 319      *          If the path string cannot be converted to a Path.
 320      */
 321     default boolean endsWith(String other) {
 322         return endsWith(getFileSystem().getPath(other));
 323     }
 324 
 325     /**
 326      * Returns a path that is this path with redundant name elements eliminated.
 327      *
 328      * <p> The precise definition of this method is implementation dependent but
 329      * in general it derives from this path, a path that does not contain
 330      * <em>redundant</em> name elements. In many file systems, the "{@code .}"
 331      * and "{@code ..}" are special names used to indicate the current directory
 332      * and parent directory. In such file systems all occurrences of "{@code .}"
 333      * are considered redundant. If a "{@code ..}" is preceded by a
 334      * non-"{@code ..}" name then both names are considered redundant (the
 335      * process to identify such names is repeated until it is no longer
 336      * applicable).
 337      *
 338      * <p> This method does not access the file system; the path may not locate
 339      * a file that exists. Eliminating "{@code ..}" and a preceding name from a
 340      * path may result in the path that locates a different file than the original
 341      * path. This can arise when the preceding name is a symbolic link.
 342      *
 343      * @return  the resulting path or this path if it does not contain
 344      *          redundant name elements; an empty path is returned if this path
 345      *          does not have a root component and all name elements are redundant
 346      *
 347      * @see #getParent
 348      * @see #toRealPath
 349      */
 350     Path normalize();
 351 
 352     // -- resolution and relativization --
 353 
 354     /**
 355      * Resolve the given path against this path.
 356      *
 357      * <p> If the {@code other} parameter is an {@link #isAbsolute() absolute}
 358      * path then this method trivially returns {@code other}. If {@code other}
 359      * is an <i>empty path</i> then this method trivially returns this path.
 360      * Otherwise this method considers this path to be a directory and resolves
 361      * the given path against this path. In the simplest case, the given path
 362      * does not have a {@link #getRoot root} component, in which case this method
 363      * <em>joins</em> the given path to this path and returns a resulting path
 364      * that {@link #endsWith ends} with the given path. Where the given path has
 365      * a root component then resolution is highly implementation dependent and
 366      * therefore unspecified.
 367      *
 368      * @param   other
 369      *          the path to resolve against this path
 370      *
 371      * @return  the resulting path
 372      *
 373      * @see #relativize
 374      */
 375     Path resolve(Path other);
 376 
 377     /**
 378      * Converts a given path string to a {@code Path} and resolves it against
 379      * this {@code Path} in exactly the manner specified by the {@link
 380      * #resolve(Path) resolve} method. For example, suppose that the name
 381      * separator is "{@code /}" and a path represents "{@code foo/bar}", then
 382      * invoking this method with the path string "{@code gus}" will result in
 383      * the {@code Path} "{@code foo/bar/gus}".
 384      *
 385      * @implSpec
 386      * The default implementation is equivalent for this path to:
 387      * <pre>{@code
 388      *     resolve(getFileSystem().getPath(other));
 389      * }</pre>
 390      *
 391      * @param   other
 392      *          the path string to resolve against this path
 393      *
 394      * @return  the resulting path
 395      *
 396      * @throws  InvalidPathException
 397      *          if the path string cannot be converted to a Path.
 398      *
 399      * @see FileSystem#getPath
 400      */
 401     default Path resolve(String other) {
 402         return resolve(getFileSystem().getPath(other));
 403     }
 404 
 405     /**
 406      * Resolves the given path against this path's {@link #getParent parent}
 407      * path. This is useful where a file name needs to be <i>replaced</i> with
 408      * another file name. For example, suppose that the name separator is
 409      * "{@code /}" and a path represents "{@code dir1/dir2/foo}", then invoking
 410      * this method with the {@code Path} "{@code bar}" will result in the {@code
 411      * Path} "{@code dir1/dir2/bar}". If this path does not have a parent path,
 412      * or {@code other} is {@link #isAbsolute() absolute}, then this method
 413      * returns {@code other}. If {@code other} is an empty path then this method
 414      * returns this path's parent, or where this path doesn't have a parent, the
 415      * empty path.
 416      *
 417      * @implSpec
 418      * The default implementation is equivalent for this path to:
 419      * <pre>{@code
 420      *     (getParent() == null) ? other : getParent().resolve(other);
 421      * }</pre>
 422      * unless {@code other == null}, in which case a
 423      * {@code NullPointerException} is thrown.
 424      *
 425      * @param   other
 426      *          the path to resolve against this path's parent
 427      *
 428      * @return  the resulting path
 429      *
 430      * @see #resolve(Path)
 431      */
 432     default Path resolveSibling(Path other) {
 433         if (other == null)
 434             throw new NullPointerException();
 435         Path parent = getParent();
 436         return (parent == null) ? other : parent.resolve(other);
 437     }
 438 
 439     /**
 440      * Converts a given path string to a {@code Path} and resolves it against
 441      * this path's {@link #getParent parent} path in exactly the manner
 442      * specified by the {@link #resolveSibling(Path) resolveSibling} method.
 443      *
 444      * @implSpec
 445      * The default implementation is equivalent for this path to:
 446      * <pre>{@code
 447      *     resolveSibling(getFileSystem().getPath(other));
 448      * }</pre>
 449      *
 450      * @param   other
 451      *          the path string to resolve against this path's parent
 452      *
 453      * @return  the resulting path
 454      *
 455      * @throws  InvalidPathException
 456      *          if the path string cannot be converted to a Path.
 457      *
 458      * @see FileSystem#getPath
 459      */
 460     default Path resolveSibling(String other) {
 461         return resolveSibling(getFileSystem().getPath(other));
 462     }
 463 
 464     /**
 465      * Constructs a relative path between this path and a given path.
 466      *
 467      * <p> Relativization is the inverse of {@link #resolve(Path) resolution}.
 468      * This method attempts to construct a {@link #isAbsolute relative} path
 469      * that when {@link #resolve(Path) resolved} against this path, yields a
 470      * path that locates the same file as the given path. For example, on UNIX,
 471      * if this path is {@code "/a/b"} and the given path is {@code "/a/b/c/d"}
 472      * then the resulting relative path would be {@code "c/d"}. Where this
 473      * path and the given path do not have a {@link #getRoot root} component,
 474      * then a relative path can be constructed. A relative path cannot be
 475      * constructed if only one of the paths have a root component. Where both
 476      * paths have a root component then it is implementation dependent if a
 477      * relative path can be constructed. If this path and the given path are
 478      * {@link #equals equal} then an <i>empty path</i> is returned.
 479      *
 480      * <p> For any two {@link #normalize normalized} paths <i>p</i> and
 481      * <i>q</i>, where <i>q</i> does not have a root component,
 482      * <blockquote>
 483      *   <i>p</i>{@code .relativize(}<i>p</i>
 484      *   {@code .resolve(}<i>q</i>{@code )).equals(}<i>q</i>{@code )}
 485      * </blockquote>
 486      *
 487      * <p> When symbolic links are supported, then whether the resulting path,
 488      * when resolved against this path, yields a path that can be used to locate
 489      * the {@link Files#isSameFile same} file as {@code other} is implementation
 490      * dependent. For example, if this path is  {@code "/a/b"} and the given
 491      * path is {@code "/a/x"} then the resulting relative path may be {@code
 492      * "../x"}. If {@code "b"} is a symbolic link then is implementation
 493      * dependent if {@code "a/b/../x"} would locate the same file as {@code "/a/x"}.
 494      *
 495      * @param   other
 496      *          the path to relativize against this path
 497      *
 498      * @return  the resulting relative path, or an empty path if both paths are
 499      *          equal
 500      *
 501      * @throws  IllegalArgumentException
 502      *          if {@code other} is not a {@code Path} that can be relativized
 503      *          against this path
 504      */
 505     Path relativize(Path other);
 506 
 507     /**
 508      * Returns a URI to represent this path.
 509      *
 510      * <p> This method constructs an absolute {@link URI} with a {@link
 511      * URI#getScheme() scheme} equal to the URI scheme that identifies the
 512      * provider. The exact form of the scheme specific part is highly provider
 513      * dependent.
 514      *
 515      * <p> In the case of the default provider, the URI is hierarchical with
 516      * a {@link URI#getPath() path} component that is absolute. The query and
 517      * fragment components are undefined. Whether the authority component is
 518      * defined or not is implementation dependent. There is no guarantee that
 519      * the {@code URI} may be used to construct a {@link java.io.File java.io.File}.
 520      * In particular, if this path represents a Universal Naming Convention (UNC)
 521      * path, then the UNC server name may be encoded in the authority component
 522      * of the resulting URI. In the case of the default provider, and the file
 523      * exists, and it can be determined that the file is a directory, then the
 524      * resulting {@code URI} will end with a slash.
 525      *
 526      * <p> The default provider provides a similar <em>round-trip</em> guarantee
 527      * to the {@link java.io.File} class. For a given {@code Path} <i>p</i> it
 528      * is guaranteed that
 529      * <blockquote>
 530      * {@link Paths#get(URI) Paths.get}{@code (}<i>p</i>{@code .toUri()).equals(}<i>p</i>
 531      * {@code .}{@link #toAbsolutePath() toAbsolutePath}{@code ())}
 532      * </blockquote>
 533      * so long as the original {@code Path}, the {@code URI}, and the new {@code
 534      * Path} are all created in (possibly different invocations of) the same
 535      * Java virtual machine. Whether other providers make any guarantees is
 536      * provider specific and therefore unspecified.
 537      *
 538      * <p> When a file system is constructed to access the contents of a file
 539      * as a file system then it is highly implementation specific if the returned
 540      * URI represents the given path in the file system or it represents a
 541      * <em>compound</em> URI that encodes the URI of the enclosing file system.
 542      * A format for compound URIs is not defined in this release; such a scheme
 543      * may be added in a future release.
 544      *
 545      * @return  the URI representing this path
 546      *
 547      * @throws  java.io.IOError
 548      *          if an I/O error occurs obtaining the absolute path, or where a
 549      *          file system is constructed to access the contents of a file as
 550      *          a file system, and the URI of the enclosing file system cannot be
 551      *          obtained
 552      *
 553      * @throws  SecurityException
 554      *          In the case of the default provider, and a security manager
 555      *          is installed, the {@link #toAbsolutePath toAbsolutePath} method
 556      *          throws a security exception.
 557      */
 558     URI toUri();
 559 
 560     /**
 561      * Returns a {@code Path} object representing the absolute path of this
 562      * path.
 563      *
 564      * <p> If this path is already {@link Path#isAbsolute absolute} then this
 565      * method simply returns this path. Otherwise, this method resolves the path
 566      * in an implementation dependent manner, typically by resolving the path
 567      * against a file system default directory. Depending on the implementation,
 568      * this method may throw an I/O error if the file system is not accessible.
 569      *
 570      * @return  a {@code Path} object representing the absolute path
 571      *
 572      * @throws  java.io.IOError
 573      *          if an I/O error occurs
 574      * @throws  SecurityException
 575      *          In the case of the default provider, a security manager
 576      *          is installed, and this path is not absolute, then the security
 577      *          manager's {@link SecurityManager#checkPropertyAccess(String)
 578      *          checkPropertyAccess} method is invoked to check access to the
 579      *          system property {@code user.dir}
 580      */
 581     Path toAbsolutePath();
 582 
 583     /**
 584      * Returns the <em>real</em> path of an existing file.
 585      *
 586      * <p> The precise definition of this method is implementation dependent but
 587      * in general it derives from this path, an {@link #isAbsolute absolute}
 588      * path that locates the {@link Files#isSameFile same} file as this path, but
 589      * with name elements that represent the actual name of the directories
 590      * and the file. For example, where filename comparisons on a file system
 591      * are case insensitive then the name elements represent the names in their
 592      * actual case. Additionally, the resulting path has redundant name
 593      * elements removed.
 594      *
 595      * <p> If this path is relative then its absolute path is first obtained,
 596      * as if by invoking the {@link #toAbsolutePath toAbsolutePath} method.
 597      *
 598      * <p> The {@code options} array may be used to indicate how symbolic links
 599      * are handled. By default, symbolic links are resolved to their final
 600      * target. If the option {@link LinkOption#NOFOLLOW_LINKS NOFOLLOW_LINKS} is
 601      * present then this method does not resolve symbolic links.
 602      *
 603      * Some implementations allow special names such as "{@code ..}" to refer to
 604      * the parent directory. When deriving the <em>real path</em>, and a
 605      * "{@code ..}" (or equivalent) is preceded by a non-"{@code ..}" name then
 606      * an implementation will typically cause both names to be removed. When
 607      * not resolving symbolic links and the preceding name is a symbolic link
 608      * then the names are only removed if it guaranteed that the resulting path
 609      * will locate the same file as this path.
 610      *
 611      * @param   options
 612      *          options indicating how symbolic links are handled
 613      *
 614      * @return  an absolute path represent the <em>real</em> path of the file
 615      *          located by this object
 616      *
 617      * @throws  IOException
 618      *          if the file does not exist or an I/O error occurs
 619      * @throws  SecurityException
 620      *          In the case of the default provider, and a security manager
 621      *          is installed, its {@link SecurityManager#checkRead(String) checkRead}
 622      *          method is invoked to check read access to the file, and where
 623      *          this path is not absolute, its {@link SecurityManager#checkPropertyAccess(String)
 624      *          checkPropertyAccess} method is invoked to check access to the
 625      *          system property {@code user.dir}
 626      */
 627     Path toRealPath(LinkOption... options) throws IOException;
 628 
 629     /**
 630      * Returns a {@link File} object representing this path. Where this {@code
 631      * Path} is associated with the default provider, then this method is
 632      * equivalent to returning a {@code File} object constructed with the
 633      * {@code String} representation of this path.
 634      *
 635      * <p> If this path was created by invoking the {@code File} {@link
 636      * File#toPath toPath} method then there is no guarantee that the {@code
 637      * File} object returned by this method is {@link #equals equal} to the
 638      * original {@code File}.
 639      *
 640      * @implSpec
 641      * The default implementation is equivalent for this path to:
 642      * <pre>{@code
 643      *     new File(toString());
 644      * }</pre>
 645      * if the {@code FileSystem} which created this {@code Path} is the default
 646      * file system; otherwise an {@code UnsupportedOperationException} is
 647      * thrown.
 648      *
 649      * @return  a {@code File} object representing this path
 650      *
 651      * @throws  UnsupportedOperationException
 652      *          if this {@code Path} is not associated with the default provider
 653      */
 654     default File toFile() {
 655         if (getFileSystem() == FileSystems.getDefault()) {
 656             return new File(toString());
 657         } else {
 658             throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Path not associated with "
 659                     + "default file system.");
 660         }
 661     }
 662 
 663     // -- watchable --
 664 
 665     /**
 666      * Registers the file located by this path with a watch service.
 667      *
 668      * <p> In this release, this path locates a directory that exists. The
 669      * directory is registered with the watch service so that entries in the
 670      * directory can be watched. The {@code events} parameter is the events to
 671      * register and may contain the following events:
 672      * <ul>
 673      *   <li>{@link StandardWatchEventKinds#ENTRY_CREATE ENTRY_CREATE} -
 674      *       entry created or moved into the directory</li>
 675      *   <li>{@link StandardWatchEventKinds#ENTRY_DELETE ENTRY_DELETE} -
 676      *        entry deleted or moved out of the directory</li>
 677      *   <li>{@link StandardWatchEventKinds#ENTRY_MODIFY ENTRY_MODIFY} -
 678      *        entry in directory was modified</li>
 679      * </ul>
 680      *
 681      * <p> The {@link WatchEvent#context context} for these events is the
 682      * relative path between the directory located by this path, and the path
 683      * that locates the directory entry that is created, deleted, or modified.
 684      *
 685      * <p> The set of events may include additional implementation specific
 686      * event that are not defined by the enum {@link StandardWatchEventKinds}
 687      *
 688      * <p> The {@code modifiers} parameter specifies <em>modifiers</em> that
 689      * qualify how the directory is registered. This release does not define any
 690      * <em>standard</em> modifiers. It may contain implementation specific
 691      * modifiers.
 692      *
 693      * <p> Where a file is registered with a watch service by means of a symbolic
 694      * link then it is implementation specific if the watch continues to depend
 695      * on the existence of the symbolic link after it is registered.
 696      *
 697      * @param   watcher
 698      *          the watch service to which this object is to be registered
 699      * @param   events
 700      *          the events for which this object should be registered
 701      * @param   modifiers
 702      *          the modifiers, if any, that modify how the object is registered
 703      *
 704      * @return  a key representing the registration of this object with the
 705      *          given watch service
 706      *
 707      * @throws  UnsupportedOperationException
 708      *          if unsupported events or modifiers are specified
 709      * @throws  IllegalArgumentException
 710      *          if an invalid combination of events or modifiers is specified
 711      * @throws  ClosedWatchServiceException
 712      *          if the watch service is closed
 713      * @throws  NotDirectoryException
 714      *          if the file is registered to watch the entries in a directory
 715      *          and the file is not a directory  <i>(optional specific exception)</i>
 716      * @throws  IOException
 717      *          if an I/O error occurs
 718      * @throws  SecurityException
 719      *          In the case of the default provider, and a security manager is
 720      *          installed, the {@link SecurityManager#checkRead(String) checkRead}
 721      *          method is invoked to check read access to the file.
 722      */
 723     @Override
 724     WatchKey register(WatchService watcher,
 725                       WatchEvent.Kind<?>[] events,
 726                       WatchEvent.Modifier... modifiers)
 727         throws IOException;
 728 
 729     /**
 730      * Registers the file located by this path with a watch service.
 731      *
 732      * <p> An invocation of this method behaves in exactly the same way as the
 733      * invocation
 734      * <pre>
 735      *     watchable.{@link #register(WatchService,WatchEvent.Kind[],WatchEvent.Modifier[]) register}(watcher, events, new WatchEvent.Modifier[0]);
 736      * </pre>
 737      *
 738      * <p> <b>Usage Example:</b>
 739      * Suppose we wish to register a directory for entry create, delete, and modify
 740      * events:
 741      * <pre>
 742      *     Path dir = ...
 743      *     WatchService watcher = ...
 744      *
 745      *     WatchKey key = dir.register(watcher, ENTRY_CREATE, ENTRY_DELETE, ENTRY_MODIFY);
 746      * </pre>
 747      *
 748      * @implSpec
 749      * The default implementation is equivalent for this path to:
 750      * <pre>{@code
 751      *     register(watcher, events, new WatchEvent.Modifier[0]);
 752      * }</pre>
 753      *
 754      * @param   watcher
 755      *          The watch service to which this object is to be registered
 756      * @param   events
 757      *          The events for which this object should be registered
 758      *
 759      * @return  A key representing the registration of this object with the
 760      *          given watch service
 761      *
 762      * @throws  UnsupportedOperationException
 763      *          If unsupported events are specified
 764      * @throws  IllegalArgumentException
 765      *          If an invalid combination of events is specified
 766      * @throws  ClosedWatchServiceException
 767      *          If the watch service is closed
 768      * @throws  NotDirectoryException
 769      *          If the file is registered to watch the entries in a directory
 770      *          and the file is not a directory  <i>(optional specific exception)</i>
 771      * @throws  IOException
 772      *          If an I/O error occurs
 773      * @throws  SecurityException
 774      *          In the case of the default provider, and a security manager is
 775      *          installed, the {@link SecurityManager#checkRead(String) checkRead}
 776      *          method is invoked to check read access to the file.
 777      */
 778     @Override
 779     default WatchKey register(WatchService watcher,
 780                       WatchEvent.Kind<?>... events) throws IOException {
 781         return register(watcher, events, new WatchEvent.Modifier[0]);
 782     }
 783 
 784     // -- Iterable --
 785 
 786     /**
 787      * Returns an iterator over the name elements of this path.
 788      *
 789      * <p> The first element returned by the iterator represents the name
 790      * element that is closest to the root in the directory hierarchy, the
 791      * second element is the next closest, and so on. The last element returned
 792      * is the name of the file or directory denoted by this path. The {@link
 793      * #getRoot root} component, if present, is not returned by the iterator.
 794      *
 795      * @implSpec
 796      * The default implementation returns an {@code Iterator<Path>} which, for
 797      * this path, traverses the {@code Path}s returned by
 798      * {@code getName(index)}, where {@code index} ranges from zero to
 799      * {@code getNameCount() - 1}, inclusive.
 800      *
 801      * @return  an iterator over the name elements of this path.
 802      */
 803     @Override
 804     default Iterator<Path> iterator() {
 805         return new Iterator<>() {
 806             private int i = 0;
 807 
 808             @Override
 809             public boolean hasNext() {
 810                 return (i < getNameCount());
 811             }
 812 
 813             @Override
 814             public Path next() {
 815                 if (i < getNameCount()) {
 816                     Path result = getName(i);
 817                     i++;
 818                     return result;
 819                 } else {
 820                     throw new NoSuchElementException();
 821                 }
 822             }
 823         };
 824     }
 825 
 826     // -- compareTo/equals/hashCode --
 827 
 828     /**
 829      * Compares two abstract paths lexicographically. The ordering defined by
 830      * this method is provider specific, and in the case of the default
 831      * provider, platform specific. This method does not access the file system
 832      * and neither file is required to exist.
 833      *
 834      * <p> This method may not be used to compare paths that are associated
 835      * with different file system providers.
 836      *
 837      * @param   other  the path compared to this path.
 838      *
 839      * @return  zero if the argument is {@link #equals equal} to this path, a
 840      *          value less than zero if this path is lexicographically less than
 841      *          the argument, or a value greater than zero if this path is
 842      *          lexicographically greater than the argument
 843      *
 844      * @throws  ClassCastException
 845      *          if the paths are associated with different providers
 846      */
 847     @Override
 848     int compareTo(Path other);
 849 
 850     /**
 851      * Tests this path for equality with the given object.
 852      *
 853      * <p> If the given object is not a Path, or is a Path associated with a
 854      * different {@code FileSystem}, then this method returns {@code false}.
 855      *
 856      * <p> Whether or not two path are equal depends on the file system
 857      * implementation. In some cases the paths are compared without regard
 858      * to case, and others are case sensitive. This method does not access the
 859      * file system and the file is not required to exist. Where required, the
 860      * {@link Files#isSameFile isSameFile} method may be used to check if two
 861      * paths locate the same file.
 862      *
 863      * <p> This method satisfies the general contract of the {@link
 864      * java.lang.Object#equals(Object) Object.equals} method. </p>
 865      *
 866      * @param   other
 867      *          the object to which this object is to be compared
 868      *
 869      * @return  {@code true} if, and only if, the given object is a {@code Path}
 870      *          that is identical to this {@code Path}
 871      */
 872     boolean equals(Object other);
 873 
 874     /**
 875      * Computes a hash code for this path.
 876      *
 877      * <p> The hash code is based upon the components of the path, and
 878      * satisfies the general contract of the {@link Object#hashCode
 879      * Object.hashCode} method.
 880      *
 881      * @return  the hash-code value for this path
 882      */
 883     int hashCode();
 884 
 885     /**
 886      * Returns the string representation of this path.
 887      *
 888      * <p> If this path was created by converting a path string using the
 889      * {@link FileSystem#getPath getPath} method then the path string returned
 890      * by this method may differ from the original String used to create the path.
 891      *
 892      * <p> The returned path string uses the default name {@link
 893      * FileSystem#getSeparator separator} to separate names in the path.
 894      *
 895      * @return  the string representation of this path
 896      */
 897     String toString();
 898 }