001/*****************************************************************************
002 * Copyright by The HDF Group.                                               *
003 * Copyright by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.         *
004 * All rights reserved.                                                      *
005 *                                                                           *
006 * This file is part of the HDF Java Products distribution.                  *
007 * The full copyright notice, including terms governing use, modification,   *
008 * and redistribution, is contained in the files COPYING and Copyright.html. *
009 * COPYING can be found at the root of the source code distribution tree.    *
010 * Or, see http://hdfgroup.org/products/hdf-java/doc/Copyright.html.         *
011 * If you do not have access to either file, you may request a copy from     *
012 * help@hdfgroup.org.                                                        *
013 ****************************************************************************/
014
015package hdf.object;
016
017/**
018 * Metadata is a general interface for metadata attached to data objects.
019 * Metadata contains supporting information attached to a primary data or
020 * component. Particular implementations of Metadata often provide additional
021 * context-specific objects as well.
022 * <p>
023 *
024 * @version 1.1 9/4/2007
025 * @author Peter X. Cao
026 */
027public interface Metadata extends java.io.Serializable {
028    /**
029     * Returns the value of this Metadata.
030     *
031     * @return the value of this Metadata.
032     */
033    public abstract Object getValue();
034
035    /**
036     * Sets the value of this Metadata.
037     *
038     * @param value the value of this Metadata.
039     */
040    public abstract void setValue(Object value);
041}