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 file COPYING.                     *
009 * COPYING can be found at the root of the source code distribution tree.    *
010 * If you do not have access to this file, you may request a copy from       *
011 * help@hdfgroup.org.                                                        *
012 ****************************************************************************/
013
014package hdf.object;
015
016/**
017 * Metadata is a general interface for metadata attached to data objects.
018 * Metadata contains supporting information attached to a primary data or
019 * component. Particular implementations of Metadata often provide additional
020 * context-specific objects as well.
021 * <p>
022 *
023 * @version 1.1 9/4/2007
024 * @author Peter X. Cao
025 */
026public interface Metadata extends java.io.Serializable {
027    /**
028     * Returns the value of this Metadata.
029     *
030     * @return the value of this Metadata.
031     */
032    public abstract Object getValue();
033
034    /**
035     * Sets the value of this Metadata.
036     *
037     * @param value the value of this Metadata.
038     */
039    public abstract void setValue(Object value);
040}