/*
 * Copyright (c) 2008, Harald Kuhr
 * All rights reserved.
 *
 * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
 *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
 *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 *     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
 *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
 *       documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
 *     * Neither the name "TwelveMonkeys" nor the
 *       names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products
 *       derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
 *
 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
 * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
 * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
 * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR
 * CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
 * EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
 * PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR
 * PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
 * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
 * NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
 * SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 */

package com.twelvemonkeys.util.convert;

/**
 * Converts strings to objects and back.
 *
 * @author <a href="mailto:harald.kuhr@gmail.com">Harald Kuhr</a>
 * @author last modified by $Author: haku $
 * @version $Id: //depot/branches/personal/haraldk/twelvemonkeys/release-2/twelvemonkeys-core/src/main/java/com/twelvemonkeys/util/convert/PropertyConverter.java#1 $
 */
public interface PropertyConverter {

    /**
     * Converts the string to an object, using the given format for parsing.
     *
     * @param pString the string to convert
     * @param pType the type to convert to. {@code PropertyConverter}
     * implementations may choose to ignore this parameter.
     * @param pFormat the format used for parsing. {@code PropertyConverter}
     * implementations may choose to ignore this parameter. Also, 
     * implementations that require a parser format, should provide a default
     * format, and allow {@code null} as the format argument.
     *
     * @return the object created from the given string.
     *
     * @throws ConversionException if the string could not be converted to the
     * specified type and format.
     */
    public Object toObject(String pString, Class pType, String pFormat)
        throws ConversionException;

    /**
     * Converts the object to a string, using the given format
     *
     * @param pObject the object to convert
     * @param pFormat the format used for parsing. {@code PropertyConverter}
     * implementations may choose to ignore this parameter. Also, 
     * implementations that require a parser format, should provide a default
     * format, and allow {@code null} as the format argument.
     *
     * @return the string representation of the object, on the correct format.
     *
     * @throws ConversionException if the string could not be converted to the
     * specified type and format.
     */
    public String toString(Object pObject, String pFormat)
        throws ConversionException;
}
