/*
 * Copyright (c) 2007 BUSINESS OBJECTS SOFTWARE LIMITED
 * All rights reserved.
 * 
 * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
 * 
 *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
 *       this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 *  
 *     * 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.
 *  
 *     * Neither the name of Business Objects nor the names of its contributors
 *       may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
 *       without specific prior written permission.
 *  
 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
 * AND ANY EXPRESS 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 THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR 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.
 */


/*
 * XMLElementSerializer.java
 * Created: Jul 29, 2004
 * By: Kevin Sit
 */
package org.openquark.util.xml;

import org.w3c.dom.Element;

/**
 * A <code>XMLElementSerializer</code> is responsible for serializing and deserializing
 * an object of specific type.  Each distinct object type should have its own 
 * implementation of <code>XMLElementSerializer</code>. 
 */
public interface XMLElementSerializer {
    
    /**
     * Loads data from XML and construct a new data instance from the data.  Returns
     * <code>null</code> if there is any error during the construction of the new
     * object.
     * @param element
     * @return Object
     */
    public Object loadFromElement(XMLSerializationManager manager, Element element);
    
    /**
     * Stores the data from an object instance to XML.
     * @param element store the value in this element
     * @param value
     */
    public void storeToElement(XMLSerializationManager manager, Element element, Object value);

}