/*
 *  ====================================================================
 *  The Apache Software License, Version 1.1
 *
 *  Copyright (c) 2002 The Apache Software Foundation.  All rights
 *  reserved.
 *
 *  Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 *  modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
 *  are met:
 *
 *  1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
 *  notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 *
 *  2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
 *  notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
 *  the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
 *  distribution.
 *
 *  3. The end-user documentation included with the redistribution,
 *  if any, must include the following acknowledgment:
 *  "This product includes software developed by the
 *  Apache Software Foundation (http://www.apache.org/)."
 *  Alternately, this acknowledgment may appear in the software itself,
 *  if and wherever such third-party acknowledgments normally appear.
 *
 *  4. The names "Apache" and "Apache Software Foundation" and
 *  "Apache Tapestry" must not be used to endorse or promote products
 *  derived from this software without prior written permission. For
 *  written permission, please contact apache@apache.org.
 *
 *  5. Products derived from this software may not be called "Apache",
 *  "Apache Tapestry", nor may "Apache" appear in their name, without
 *  prior written permission of the Apache Software Foundation.
 *
 *  THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED
 *  WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
 *  OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
 *  DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE APACHE SOFTWARE FOUNDATION OR
 *  ITS CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
 *  SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
 *  LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF
 *  USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
 *  ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
 *  OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT
 *  OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
 *  SUCH DAMAGE.
 *  ====================================================================
 *
 *  This software consists of voluntary contributions made by many
 *  individuals on behalf of the Apache Software Foundation.  For more
 *  information on the Apache Software Foundation, please see
 *  <http://www.apache.org/>.
 */
package net.sf.tapestry.multipart;

import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;

import net.sf.tapestry.IUploadFile;

/**
 *  Defines how a multipart HTTP request can be broken into individual
 *  elements (including file uploads).
 *  
 *
 *  @author Howard Lewis Ship
 *  @version $Id$
 *  @since 2.3
 **/

public interface IMultipartDecoder
{
	/**
	 *  Decodes the incoming request, identifying all
	 *  the parts (values and uploaded files) contained
	 *  within.
	 * 
	 **/
	
	public void decode(HttpServletRequest request);
	
	/**
	 *  Invoked to release any resources needed by tghe
	 *  decoder.  In some cases, large incoming parts
	 *  are written to temporary files; this method
	 *  ensures those temporary files are deleted.
	 * 
	 **/
	
    public void cleanup();	
    
    /**
     *  Returns the single value (or first value) for the parameter
     *  with the specified name.  Returns null if no such parameter
     *  was in the request.
     * 
     **/

    public String getString(String name);  
    
    /**
     *  Returns an array of values (possibly a single element array).
     *  Returns null if no such parameter was in the request.
     * 
     **/

    public String[] getStrings(String name);  
    
    /**
     *  Returns the uploaded file with the specified parameter name,
     *  or null if no such parameter was in the request.
     * 
     **/

    public IUploadFile getUploadFile(String name);      
}