| gvSIG desktop 1

package org.gvsig.fmap.dal.feature;

import org.gvsig.fmap.dal.exception.DataException;

/**

 * A FeatureReference is a lightweight unique identifier for a

 * {@link Feature}. It is used to keep references on features

 * without maintaining the whole feature in memory, thus improving

 * memory needs.

 *

 */

public interface FeatureReference {

        /**

         * Returns the referenced {@link Feature}

         *

         * @return the {@link Feature} identified by this {@link FeatureReference}

         *

         * @throws DataException

         */

        public Feature getFeature() throws DataException;

        /**

         * Returns the referenced {@link Feature}

         *

         * @param featureType

         *            The {@link FeatureType} to which the referenced

         *            {@link Feature} belongs.

         *

         * @return the {@link Feature} identified by this {@link FeatureReference}

         *

         * @throws DataException

         */

        public Feature getFeature(FeatureType featureType) throws DataException;

}