content: /*
   * Entry.java July 2006
   *
   * Copyright (C) 2006, Niall Gallagher <niallg@users.sf.net>
   *
   * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
   * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
   * You may obtain a copy of the License at
   *
   *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
   *
   * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
   * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
   * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or 
   * implied. See the License for the specific language governing 
   * permissions and limitations under the License.
   */
  
  package com.aliyun.odps.simpleframework.xml.util;
  
  /**
   * The <code>Entry</code> object represents entries to the dictionary
   * object. Every entry must have a name attribute, which is used to
   * establish mappings within the <code>Dictionary</code> object. Each
   * entry entered into the dictionary can be retrieved using its name. 
   * <p>
   * The entry can be serialzed with the dictionary to an XML document.
   * Items stored within the dictionary need to extend this entry
   * object to ensure that they can be mapped and serialized with the
   * dictionary. Implementations should override the root annotation.
   *
   * @author Niall Gallagher
   */ 
  public interface Entry {
  
     /**
      * Represents the name of the entry instance used for mappings.
      * This will be used to map the object to the internal map in
      * the <code>Dictionary</code>. This allows serialized objects
      * to be added to the dictionary transparently.
      * 
      * @return this returns the name of the entry that is used 
      */         
     String getName();
  }
  