/*
 * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS HEADER.
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 * 
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 * and Distribution License("CDDL") (collectively, the "License").  You
 * may not use this file except in compliance with the License. You can obtain
 * a copy of the License at https://glassfish.dev.java.net/public/CDDL+GPL.html
 * or glassfish/bootstrap/legal/LICENSE.txt.  See the License for the specific
 * language governing permissions and limitations under the License.
 * 
 * When distributing the software, include this License Header Notice in each
 * file and include the License file at glassfish/bootstrap/legal/LICENSE.txt.
 * Sun designates this particular file as subject to the "Classpath" exception
 * as provided by Sun in the GPL Version 2 section of the License file that
 * accompanied this code.  If applicable, add the following below the License
 * Header, with the fields enclosed by brackets [] replaced by your own
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/*
 * ClassFileLoader.java
 *
 * Created on August 13, 2004, 9:05 PM
 */

package com.sun.enterprise.tools.verifier.apiscan.classfile;

import java.io.IOException;

/**
 * This is loader for ClassFile similar to what ClassLoader is for class in
 * Java.
 *
 * @author Sanjeeb.Sahoo@Sun.COM
 */
public interface ClassFileLoader {
    /**
     * @param externalClassName class name in external form. This is same as
     *                          what is used in java.lang.ClassLoader.load() or
     *                          Class.forName(). It is upto the implementation
     *                          to decide if they want to use caching or not.
     * @return The {@link ClassFile} loaded.
     * @throws IOException if specified class could not be found.
     * @see ClassFile
     */
    ClassFile load(String externalClassName) throws IOException;
}