package com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.type;

import java.lang.reflect.Type;

import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JavaType;

Class that defines API that can be used to modify details of JavaType instances constructed using TypeFactory. Registered modifiers are called in order, to let them modify (or replace) basic type instance factory constructs. This is typically needed to support creation of MapLikeType and CollectionLikeType instances, as those cannot be constructed in generic fashion. /**
 * Class that defines API that can be used to modify details of
 * {@link JavaType} instances constructed using {@link TypeFactory}.
 * Registered modifiers are called in order, to let them modify (or
 * replace) basic type instance factory constructs.
 * This is typically needed to support creation of
 * {@link MapLikeType} and {@link CollectionLikeType} instances,
 * as those cannot be constructed in generic fashion.
 */
public abstract class TypeModifier
{
    
Method called to let modifier change constructed type definition.
Note that this is only guaranteed to be called for
non-container types ("simple" types not recognized as arrays,
java.util.Collection or java.util.Map).
Params:
type – Instance to modify
jdkType – JDK type that was used to construct instance to modify
context – Type resolution context used for the type
typeFactory – Type factory that can be used to construct parameter type; note,
  however, that care must be taken to avoid infinite loops -- specifically, do not
  construct instance of primary type itself
Returns:
Actual type instance to use; usually either type (as is or with
   modifications), or a newly constructed type instance based on it. Cannot be null./**
     * Method called to let modifier change constructed type definition.
     * Note that this is only guaranteed to be called for
     * non-container types ("simple" types not recognized as arrays,
     * <code>java.util.Collection</code> or <code>java.util.Map</code>).
     * 
     * @param type Instance to modify
     * @param jdkType JDK type that was used to construct instance to modify
     * @param context Type resolution context used for the type
     * @param typeFactory Type factory that can be used to construct parameter type; note,
     *   however, that care must be taken to avoid infinite loops -- specifically, do not
     *   construct instance of primary type itself
     * 
     * @return Actual type instance to use; usually either <code>type</code> (as is or with
     *    modifications), or a newly constructed type instance based on it. Cannot be null.
     */
    public abstract JavaType modifyType(JavaType type, Type jdkType, TypeBindings context,
            TypeFactory typeFactory);
}