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 * Copyright (c) 2003, 2004, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
 * ORACLE PROPRIETARY/CONFIDENTIAL. Use is subject to license terms.
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package java.lang.reflect;

/**
 * WildcardType represents a wildcard type expression, such as
 * {@code ?}, {@code ? extends Number}, or {@code ? super Integer}.
 *
 * @since 1.5
 */
public interface WildcardType extends Type {
    /**
     * Returns an array of {@code Type} objects representing the  upper
     * bound(s) of this type variable.  Note that if no upper bound is
     * explicitly declared, the upper bound is {@code Object}.
     *
     * <p>For each upper bound B :
     * <ul>
     *  <li>if B is a parameterized type or a type variable, it is created,
     *  (see {@link java.lang.reflect.ParameterizedType ParameterizedType}
     *  for the details of the creation process for parameterized types).
     *  <li>Otherwise, B is resolved.
     * </ul>
     *
     * @return an array of Types representing the upper bound(s) of this
     *     type variable
     * @throws TypeNotPresentException if any of the
     *     bounds refers to a non-existent type declaration
     * @throws MalformedParameterizedTypeException if any of the
     *     bounds refer to a parameterized type that cannot be instantiated
     *     for any reason
     */
    Type[] getUpperBounds();

    /**
     * Returns an array of {@code Type} objects representing the
     * lower bound(s) of this type variable.  Note that if no lower bound is
     * explicitly declared, the lower bound is the type of {@code null}.
     * In this case, a zero length array is returned.
     *
     * <p>For each lower bound B :
     * <ul>
     *   <li>if B is a parameterized type or a type variable, it is created,
     *  (see {@link java.lang.reflect.ParameterizedType ParameterizedType}
     *  for the details of the creation process for parameterized types).
     *   <li>Otherwise, B is resolved.
     * </ul>
     *
     * @return an array of Types representing the lower bound(s) of this
     *     type variable
     * @throws TypeNotPresentException if any of the
     *     bounds refers to a non-existent type declaration
     * @throws MalformedParameterizedTypeException if any of the
     *     bounds refer to a parameterized type that cannot be instantiated
     *     for any reason
     */
    Type[] getLowerBounds();
    // one or many? Up to language spec; currently only one, but this API
    // allows for generalization.
}