org.eclipse.aether.metadata

## Interface Metadata

- All Known Subinterfaces:
    MergeableMetadata
  All Known Implementing Classes:
    AbstractMetadata, DefaultMetadata

      public interface Metadata

  A piece of repository metadata, e.g. an index of available versions. In contrast to an artifact, which usually exists in only one repository, metadata usually exists in multiple repositories and each repository contains a different copy of the metadata. Note: Metadata instances are supposed to be immutable, e.g. any exposed mutator method returns a new metadata instance and leaves the original instance unchanged. Implementors are strongly advised to obey this contract. Note: Implementors are strongly advised to inherit from `AbstractMetadata` instead of directly implementing this interface.
  Restriction:
    This interface is not intended to be extended by clients.
  Restriction:
    This interface is not intended to be implemented by clients.

- - ### Nested Class Summary

    Nested Classes
    Modifier and Type | Interface and Description
    --- | ---
    `static class` | `Metadata.Nature` The nature of the metadata.

  - ### Method Summary

    Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `String` | `getArtifactId()` Gets the artifact identifier of this metadata.
    `File` | `getFile()` Gets the file of this metadata.
    `String` | `getGroupId()` Gets the group identifier of this metadata.
    `Metadata.Nature` | `getNature()` Gets the nature of this metadata.
    `Map<String,String>` | `getProperties()` Gets the properties of this metadata.
    `String` | `getProperty(String key, String defaultValue)` Gets the specified property.
    `String` | `getType()` Gets the type of the metadata, e.g.
    `String` | `getVersion()` Gets the version of this metadata.
    `Metadata` | `setFile(File file)` Sets the file of the metadata.
    `Metadata` | `setProperties(Map<String,String> properties)` Sets the properties for the metadata.

- - ### Method Detail

    - #### getGroupId

          String getGroupId()

      Gets the group identifier of this metadata.
      Returns:
        The group identifier or an empty string if the metadata applies to the entire repository, never `null`.

    - #### getArtifactId

          String getArtifactId()

      Gets the artifact identifier of this metadata.
      Returns:
        The artifact identifier or an empty string if the metadata applies to the groupId level only, never `null`.

    - #### getVersion

          String getVersion()

      Gets the version of this metadata.
      Returns:
        The version or an empty string if the metadata applies to the groupId:artifactId level only, never `null`.

    - #### getType

          String getType()

      Gets the type of the metadata, e.g. "maven-metadata.xml".
      Returns:
        The type of the metadata, never `null`.

    - #### getNature

          Metadata.Nature getNature()

      Gets the nature of this metadata. The nature indicates to what artifact versions the metadata refers.
      Returns:
        The nature, never `null`.

    - #### getFile

          File getFile()

      Gets the file of this metadata. Note that only resolved metadata has a file associated with it.
      Returns:
        The file or `null` if none.

    - #### setFile

          Metadata setFile(File file)

      Sets the file of the metadata.
      Parameters:
        `file` - The file of the metadata, may be `null`
      Returns:
        The new metadata, never `null`.

    - #### getProperty

          String getProperty(String key,
                           String defaultValue)

      Gets the specified property.
      Parameters:
        `key` - The name of the property, must not be `null`.
        `defaultValue` - The default value to return in case the property is not set, may be `null`.
      Returns:
        The requested property value or `null` if the property is not set and no default value was provided.

    - #### getProperties

          Map<String,String> getProperties()

      Gets the properties of this metadata.
      Returns:
        The (read-only) properties, never `null`.

    - #### setProperties

          Metadata setProperties(Map<String,String> properties)

      Sets the properties for the metadata.
      Parameters:
        `properties` - The properties for the metadata, may be `null`.
      Returns:
        The new metadata, never `null`.

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