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25 
26 package java.lang.reflect;
27 
28 
29 /**
30  * ParameterizedType represents a parameterized type such as
31  * Collection<String>.
32  *
33  * <p>A parameterized type is created the first time it is needed by a
34  * reflective method, as specified in this package. When a
35  * parameterized type p is created, the generic type declaration that
36  * p instantiates is resolved, and all type arguments of p are created
37  * recursively. See {@link java.lang.reflect.TypeVariable
38  * TypeVariable} for details on the creation process for type
39  * variables. Repeated creation of a parameterized type has no effect.
40  *
41  * <p>Instances of classes that implement this interface must implement
42  * an equals() method that equates any two instances that share the
43  * same generic type declaration and have equal type parameters.
44  *
45  * @since 1.5
46  */
47 public interface ParameterizedType extends Type {
48     /**
49      * Returns an array of {@code Type} objects representing the actual type
50      * arguments to this type.
51      *
52      * <p>Note that in some cases, the returned array be empty. This can occur
53      * if this type represents a non-parameterized type nested within
54      * a parameterized type.
55      *
56      * @return an array of {@code Type} objects representing the actual type
57      *     arguments to this type
58      * @throws TypeNotPresentException if any of the
59      *     actual type arguments refers to a non-existent type declaration
60      * @throws MalformedParameterizedTypeException if any of the
61      *     actual type parameters refer to a parameterized type that cannot
62      *     be instantiated for any reason
63      * @since 1.5
64      */
getActualTypeArguments()65     Type[] getActualTypeArguments();
66 
67     /**
68      * Returns the {@code Type} object representing the class or interface
69      * that declared this type.
70      *
71      * @return the {@code Type} object representing the class or interface
72      *     that declared this type
73      * @since 1.5
74      */
getRawType()75     Type getRawType();
76 
77     /**
78      * Returns a {@code Type} object representing the type that this type
79      * is a member of.  For example, if this type is {@code O<T>.I<S>},
80      * return a representation of {@code O<T>}.
81      *
82      * <p>If this type is a top-level type, {@code null} is returned.
83      *
84      * @return a {@code Type} object representing the type that
85      *     this type is a member of. If this type is a top-level type,
86      *     {@code null} is returned
87      * @throws TypeNotPresentException if the owner type
88      *     refers to a non-existent type declaration
89      * @throws MalformedParameterizedTypeException if the owner type
90      *     refers to a parameterized type that cannot be instantiated
91      *     for any reason
92      * @since 1.5
93      */
getOwnerType()94     Type getOwnerType();
95 }
96