/*$************************************************************************************************
 **
 ** $Id: Composite.java 831 2006-05-01 00:27:23Z Desruisseaux $
 **
 ** $URL: http://svn.code.sf.net/p/geoapi/code/branches/2.0.x/geoapi/src/main/java/org/opengis/spatialschema/geometry/complex/Composite.java $
 **
 ** Copyright (C) 2003-2005 Open GIS Consortium, Inc.
 ** All Rights Reserved. http://www.opengis.org/legal/
 **
 *************************************************************************************************/
package org.opengis.spatialschema.geometry.complex;

// J2SE direct dependencies
import java.util.List;

// OpenGIS direct dependencies
import org.opengis.spatialschema.geometry.primitive.Primitive;

// Annotations
import org.opengis.annotation.UML;
import static org.opengis.annotation.Obligation.*;
import static org.opengis.annotation.Specification.*;


/**
 * A geometric complex with an underlying core geometry that is isomorphic to a primitive. Thus,
 * a composite curve is a collection of curves whose geometry interface could be satisfied by a
 * single curve (albeit a much more complex one). Composites are intended for use as attribute
 * values in datasets in which the underlying geometry has been decomposed, usually to expose its
 * topological nature.
 *
 * @version Abstract specification 5
 * @author Martin Desruisseaux (IRD)
 * @since GeoAPI 1.0
 */
@UML(identifier="GM_Composite", specification=ISO_19107)
public interface Composite extends Complex {
    /**
     * Returns a homogeneous collection of {@linkplain Primitive primitives} whose union would be
     * the core geometry of the composite. The complex would include all primitives in the generator
     * and all primitives on the boundary of these primitives, and so forth until
     * {@linkplain org.opengis.spatialschema.geometry.primitive.Point points} are included. Thus the
     * {@code generators} on {@code Composite} is a subset of the
     * {@linkplain Complex#getElements elements} on {@linkplain Complex complex}.
     *
     * @return The list of primitives in this composite.
     */
    @UML(identifier="generator", obligation=MANDATORY, specification=ISO_19107)
    public List getGenerators();
}