/**
 * Copyright (c) 2005-2006, Sun Microsystems, Inc
 * 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 the TimingFramework project 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.
 */

package org.jdesktop.animation.timing.interpolation;

/**
 * Interface that defines the single {@link #interpolate(float)} method.
 * This interface is implemented by built-in interpolators.  
 * Applications may choose to implement
 * their own Interpolator to get custom interpolation behavior.
 *
 * @author Chet
 */
public interface Interpolator {
  
    /**
     * This function takes an input value between 0 and 1 and returns
     * another value, also between 0 and 1. The purpose of the function
     * is to define how time (represented as a (0-1) fraction of the
     * duration of an animation) is altered to derive different value
     * calculations during an animation.
     * @param fraction a value between 0 and 1, representing the elapsed
     * fraction of a time interval (either an entire animation cycle or an 
     * interval between two KeyTimes, depending on where this Interpolator has
     * been set)
     * @return a value between 0 and 1.  Values outside of this boundary may
     * be clamped to the interval [0,1] and cause undefined results.
     */
    public float interpolate(float fraction);
    
}