/**
 * $RCSfile: Cacheable.java,v $
 * $Revision: 1.2 $
 * $Date: 2000/12/21 17:47:20 $
 *
 * Copyright (C) 2000 CoolServlets.com. All rights reserved.
 *
 * ===================================================================
 * The Apache Software License, Version 1.1
 *
 * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
 * are met:
 *
 * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
 *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 *
 * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
 *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
 *    the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
 *    distribution.
 *
 * 3. The end-user documentation included with the redistribution,
 *    if any, must include the following acknowledgment:
 *       "This product includes software developed by
 *        CoolServlets.com (http://www.Yasna.com)."
 *    Alternately, this acknowledgment may appear in the software itself,
 *    if and wherever such third-party acknowledgments normally appear.
 *
 * 4. The names "Jive" and "CoolServlets.com" must not be used to
 *    endorse or promote products derived from this software without
 *    prior written permission. For written permission, please
 *    contact webmaster@Yasna.com.
 *
 * 5. Products derived from this software may not be called "Jive",
 *    nor may "Jive" appear in their name, without prior written
 *    permission of CoolServlets.com.
 *
 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED
 * WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
 * OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
 * DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL COOLSERVLETS.COM OR
 * ITS CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
 * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
 * LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF
 * USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
 * ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
 * OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT
 * OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
 * SUCH DAMAGE.
 * ====================================================================
 *
 * This software consists of voluntary contributions made by many
 * individuals on behalf of CoolServlets.com. For more information
 * on CoolServlets.com, please see <http://www.Yasna.com>.
 */

package com.Yasna.util;

/**
 * Interface that defines the necessary behavior for objects added to a Cache.
 * Objects only need to know how big they are (in bytes). That size
 * should be considered to be a best estimate of how much memory the Object
 * occupies and may be based on empirical trials or dynamic calculations.<p>
 *
 * While the accuracy of the size calculation is important, care should be
 * taken to minimize the computation time so that cache operations are
 * speedy.
 *
 * @see Cache
 */
public interface Cacheable {

    /**
     * Returns the approximate size of the Object in bytes. The size should be
     * considered to be a best estimate of how much memory the Object occupies
     * and may be based on empirical trials or dynamic calculations.<p>
     *
     * @return the size of the Object in bytes.
     */
    public int getSize();
}