001/**
002 *  Unit-API - Units of Measurement API for Java
003 *  Copyright (c) 2005-2015, Jean-Marie Dautelle, Werner Keil, V2COM.
004 *
005 * All rights reserved.
006 *
007 * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification,
008 * are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
009 *
010 * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
011 *    this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
012 *
013 * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions
014 *    and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
015 *
016 * 3. Neither the name of JSR-363, Unit-API nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products
017 *    derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
018 *
019 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
020 * AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
021 * THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
022 * ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
023 * FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
024 * (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
025 * LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED
026 * AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
027 * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE,
028 * EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
029 */
030package tec.uom.lib.common.function;
031
032/**
033 * Provides String symbol to implementations
034 *
035 * <p>There is no requirement that a distinct result be returned each
036 * time the supplier is invoked, unless implementing classes enforce it.
037 * 
038 * <p>This is a <a href="http://download.java.net/jdk8/docs/api/java/util/function/package-summary.html">functional interface</a>
039 * whose functional method is {@link #getSymbol()}.
040 * 
041 * @author  <a href="mailto:units@catmedia.us">Werner Keil</a>
042 */
043//equivalent to @FunctionalInterface
044public interface SymbolSupplier {
045        
046    /**
047     * @return a symbol
048     */
049    String getSymbol();
050}