/*
 * @(#)NamingEnumeration.java	1.6 03/01/23
 *
 * Copyright 2003 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved.
 * SUN PROPRIETARY/CONFIDENTIAL. Use is subject to license terms.
 */

package javax.naming;

import java.util.Enumeration;

/**
  * This interface is for enumerating lists returned by 
  * methods in the javax.naming and javax.naming.directory packages.
  * It extends Enumeration to allow as exceptions to be thrown during 
  * the enumeration.
  *<p>
  * When a method such as list(), listBindings(), or search() returns
  * a NamingEnumeration, any exceptions encountered are reserved until
  * all results have been returned. At the end of the enumeration, the
  * exception is thrown (by hasMore());
  * <p> 
  * For example, if the list() is
  * returning only a partial answer, the corresponding exception would 
  * be PartialResultException. list() would first return a NamingEnumeration.
  * When the last of the results has been returned by the NamingEnumeration's
  * next(), invoking hasMore() would result in PartialResultException being thrown.
  *<p>
  * In another example, if a search() method was invoked with a specified
  * size limit of 'n'. If the answer consists of more than 'n' results, 
  * search() would first return a NamingEnumeration.
  * When the n'th result has been returned by invoking next() on the
  * NamingEnumeration, a SizeLimitExceedException would then thrown when
  * hasMore() is invoked.
  *<p>
  * Note that if the program uses hasMoreElements() and nextElement() instead
  * to iterate through the NamingEnumeration, because these methods
  * cannot throw exceptions, no exception will be thrown. Instead,
  * in the previous example, after the n'th result has been returned by
  * nextElement(), invoking hasMoreElements() would return false.
  *<p>
  * Note also that NoSuchElementException is thrown if the program invokes
  * next() or nextElement() when there are no elements left in the enumeration.
  * The program can always avoid this exception by using hasMore() and 
  * hasMoreElements() to check whether the end of the enumeration has been reached.
  *<p>
  * If an exception is thrown during an enumeration,
  * the enumeration becomes invalid. 
  * Subsequent invocation of any method on that enumeration
  * will yield undefined results.
  * 
  * @author Rosanna Lee
  * @author Scott Seligman
  * @version 1.6 03/01/23
  *
  * @see Context#list
  * @see Context#listBindings
  * @see javax.naming.directory.DirContext#search
  * @see javax.naming.directory.Attributes#getAll
  * @see javax.naming.directory.Attributes#getIDs
  * @see javax.naming.directory.Attribute#getAll
  * @since 1.3
  */
public interface NamingEnumeration extends Enumeration {
    /**
      * Retrieves the next element in the enumeration.
      * This method allows naming exceptions encountered while
      * retrieving the next element to be caught and handled
      * by the application. 
      * <p> 
      * Note that <tt>next()</tt> can also throw the runtime exception 
      * NoSuchElementException to indicate that the caller is 
      * attempting to enumerate beyond the end of the enumeration.
      * This is different from a NamingException, which indicates
      * that there was a problem in obtaining the next element,
      * for example, due to a referral or server unavailability, etc.
      *
      * @return 	The possibly null element in the enumeration.
      *	    null is only valid for enumerations that can return
      *	    null (e.g. Attribute.getAll() returns an enumeration of
      *	    attribute values, and an attribute value can be null).
      * @exception NamingException If a naming exception is encountered while attempting
      * 		to retrieve the next element. See NamingException
      *			and its subclasses for the possible naming exceptions.
      * @exception java.util.NoSuchElementException If attempting to get the next element when none is available.
      * @see java.util.Enumeration#nextElement
      */
    public Object next() throws NamingException;

    /**
      * Determines whether there are any more elements in the enumeration.
      * This method allows naming exceptions encountered while
      * determining whether there are more elements to be caught and handled
      * by the application.
      *
      * @return		true if there is more in the enumeration ; false otherwise.
      * @exception NamingException 
      * 		If a naming exception is encountered while attempting
      * 		to determine whether there is another element
      *			in the enumeration. See NamingException
      *			and its subclasses for the possible naming exceptions.
      * @see java.util.Enumeration#hasMoreElements
      */
    public boolean hasMore() throws NamingException;

    /**
     * Closes this enumeration.
     *
     * After this method has been invoked on this enumeration, the
     * enumeration becomes invalid and subsequent invocation of any of
     * its methods will yield undefined results.
     * This method is intended for aborting an enumeration to free up resources.
     * If an enumeration proceeds to the end--that is, until
     * <tt>hasMoreElements()</tt> or <tt>hasMore()</tt> returns <tt>false</tt>--
     * resources will be freed up automatically and there is no need to
     * explicitly call <tt>close()</tt>.
     *<p>
     * This method indicates to the service provider that it is free
     * to release resources associated with the enumeration, and can
     * notify servers to cancel any outstanding requests. The <tt>close()</tt>
     * method is a hint to implementations for managing their resources.
     * Implementations are encouraged to use appropriate algorithms to
     * manage their resources when client omits the <tt>close()</tt> calls.
     *
     * @exception NamingException If a naming exception is encountered
     * while closing the enumeration.
     * @since 1.3
     */
    public void close() throws NamingException;
}