/*
 * Encog(tm) Core v3.4 - Java Version
 * http://www.heatonresearch.com/encog/
 * https://github.com/encog/encog-java-core
 
 * Copyright 2008-2016 Heaton Research, Inc.
 *
 * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
 * You may obtain a copy of the License at
 *
 *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
 *
 * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
 * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
 * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 * limitations under the License.
 *   
 * For more information on Heaton Research copyrights, licenses 
 * and trademarks visit:
 * http://www.heatonresearch.com/copyright
 */
package org.encog.ml.data.versatile.missing;

import java.io.Serializable;

import org.encog.ml.data.versatile.NormalizationHelper;
import org.encog.ml.data.versatile.columns.ColumnDefinition;

/**
 * Specifies how to handle missing data.
 */
public interface MissingHandler extends Serializable {

	/**
	 * Called by the normalizer to setup this handler.
	 * @param normalizationHelper The normalizer that is being used.
	 */
	void init(NormalizationHelper normalizationHelper);

	/**
	 * Process a column's missing data.
	 * @param colDef The column that is missing.
	 * @return The value to use.
	 */
	String processString(ColumnDefinition colDef);
	
	double processDouble(ColumnDefinition colDef);

}