/*
 * @(#) Sortable.java - Interface for comparable/orderable objects.
 * (c) 2000 Ivan Maidanski <ivmai@chat.ru> http://ivmai.chat.ru
 * Freeware class library sources. All rights reserved.
 **
 * Language: Java [pure]
 * Tested with: JDK v1.1.6
 * Last modified: 2000-12-27 12:20:00 GMT+03:00
 */

/*
 * This software is the proprietary information of the author.
 **
 * Permission to use, copy, and distribute this software and its
 * documentation for non-commercial purposes and without fee is
 * hereby granted provided that this copyright notice appears in all
 * copies.
 **
 * This software should not be modified in any way; any found bug
 * should be reported to the author.
 **
 * The author disclaims all warranties with regard to this software,
 * including all implied warranties of merchantability and fitness.
 * In no event shall the author be liable for any special, indirect
 * or consequential damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from
 * loss of use, data or profits, whether in an action of contract,
 * negligence or other tortuous action, arising out of or in
 * connection with the use or performance of this software.
 */

package ivmai.util;

/**
 * Interface for comparable/orderable objects.
 **
 * Any class implementing this interface allows semantic ordering
 * (sorting) of its instances using its built-in 'greater-than'
 * comparator method.
 **
 * @version 2.0
 * @author Ivan Maidanski
 */
public interface Sortable
{

/**
 * Tests for being semantically greater than the argument.
 **
 * The result is true if and only if <VAR>obj</VAR> is of expected
 * type and <CODE>this</CODE> object is greater than the specified
 * one. Important notes: in a particular <CODE>final</CODE> class
 * <CODE>int compareTo(Type val) throws NullPointerException</CODE>
 * method may be provided for user convenience.
 **
 * @param obj
 * the second compared object (may be <CODE>null</CODE>).
 * @return
 * <CODE>true</CODE> if <VAR>obj</VAR> is comparable with
 * <CODE>this</CODE> and <CODE>this</CODE> object is greater than
 * <VAR>obj</VAR>, else <CODE>false</CODE>.
 **
 * @since 2.0
 */
 public abstract boolean greaterThan(Object obj);
}