001/*
002 * Java Genetic Algorithm Library (jenetics-7.2.0).
003 * Copyright (c) 2007-2023 Franz Wilhelmstötter
004 *
005 * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
006 * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
007 * You may obtain a copy of the License at
008 *
009 *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
010 *
011 * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
012 * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
013 * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
014 * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
015 * limitations under the License.
016 *
017 * Author:
018 *    Franz Wilhelmstötter (franz.wilhelmstoetter@gmail.com)
019 */
020package io.jenetics.util;
021
022/**
023 * This interface indicates that a class can create a copy of type {@code T}.
024 * Typically, classes which implement this interface, are able to create a copy
025 * from itself.
026 *
027 * @param <T> the type of the copied object
028 *
029 * @author <a href="mailto:franz.wilhelmstoetter@gmail.com">Franz Wilhelmstötter</a>
030 * @since 1.0
031 * @version 1.0
032 */
033public interface  Copyable<T> {
034
035        /**
036         * Return a new copy of type {@code T}.
037         *
038         * @return a new copy of type {@code T}.
039         */
040        T copy();
041
042}