/*

 * Copyright (c) 2003, 2004, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

 * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.

 *

 * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it

 * under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2 only, as

 * published by the Free Software Foundation.  Oracle designates this

 * particular file as subject to the "Classpath" exception as provided

 * by Oracle in the LICENSE file that accompanied this code.

 *

 * This code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT

 * ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or

 * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License

 * version 2 for more details (a copy is included in the LICENSE file that

 * accompanied this code).

 *

 * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License version

 * 2 along with this work; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,

 * Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.

 *

 * Please contact Oracle, 500 Oracle Parkway, Redwood Shores, CA 94065 USA

 * or visit www.oracle.com if you need additional information or have any

 * questions.

 */

package sun.management.counter;

/**

 * The base class for a performance counter.

 *

 * @author   Brian Doherty

 */

public interface Counter extends java.io.Serializable {

    /**

     * Returns the name of this performance counter

     */

    public String getName();

    /**

     * Returns the Units for this performance counter

     */

    public Units getUnits();

    /**

     * Returns the Variability for this performance counter

     */

    public Variability getVariability();

    /**

     * Returns true if this performance counter is a vector

     */

    public boolean isVector();

    /**

     * Returns the length of the vector

     */

    public int getVectorLength();

    /**

     * Returns an Object that encapsulates the data value of this counter

     */

    public Object getValue();

    /**

     * Returns <tt>true</tt> if this counter is an internal counter.

     */

    public boolean isInternal();

    /**

     * Return the flags associated with the counter.

     */

    public int getFlags();

}