/*
 * Copyright 2002-2007 the original author or authors.
 *
 * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
 * You may obtain a copy of the License at
 *
 *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
 *
 * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
 * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
 * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 * limitations under the License.
 */

package org.springframework.aop;

/**
 * Minimal interface for exposing the target class behind a proxy.
 *
 * <p>Implemented by AOP proxy objects and proxy factories
 * (via {@link org.springframework.aop.framework.Advised}}
 * as well as by {@link TargetSource TargetSources}.
 *
 * @author Juergen Hoeller
 * @since 2.0.3
 * @see org.springframework.aop.support.AopUtils#getTargetClass(Object)
 */
public interface TargetClassAware {

	/**
	 * Return the target class behind the implementing object
	 * (typically a proxy configuration or an actual proxy).
	 * @return the target Class, or <code>null</code> if not known
	 */
	Class getTargetClass();

}