gnu.xml.dom

Class DomAttr

public class DomAttr extends DomNsNode implements Attr

"Attr" implementation. In DOM, attributes cost quite a lot of memory because their values are complex structures rather than just simple strings. To reduce your costs, avoid having more than one child of an attribute; stick to a single Text node child, and ignore even that by using the attribute's "nodeValue" property.

As a bit of general advice, only look at attribute modification events through the DOMAttrModified event (sent to the associated element). Implementations are not guaranteed to report other events in the same order, so you're very likely to write nonportable code if you monitor events at the "children of Attr" level.

At this writing, not all attribute modifications will cause the DOMAttrModified event to be triggered ... only the ones using the string methods (setNodeValue, setValue, and Element.setAttribute) to modify those values. That is, if you manipulate those children directly, elements won't get notified that attribute values have changed. The natural fix for that will report other modifications, but won't be able to expose "previous" attribute value; it'll need to be cached or something (at which point why bother using child nodes).

You are strongly advised not to use "children" of any attribute nodes you work with.

Version: $Date: 2001/11/20 04:53:46 $

Author: David Brownell

Constructor Summary
protected DomAttr(Document owner, String namespaceURI, String name)
Constructs an Attr node associated with the specified document.
Method Summary
Objectclone()
Shallow clone of the attribute, breaking all ties with any elements.
StringgetName()
DOM L1 Returns the attribute name (same as getNodeName)
shortgetNodeType()
DOM L1 Returns the constant ATTRIBUTE_NODE.
StringgetNodeValue()
DOM L1 Returns the attribute value, with character and entity references substituted.
ElementgetOwnerElement()
DOM L2 Returns the element with which this attribute is associated.
booleangetSpecified()
DOM L1 Returns true if a parser reported this was in the source text.
StringgetValue()
DOM L1 Returns the value of the attribute as a non-null string; same as getNodeValue.
voidsetNodeValue(String value)
DOM L1 Assigns the attribute value; using this API, no entity or character references will exist.
voidsetOwnerElement(Element e)
Records the element with which this attribute is associated.
voidsetSpecified(boolean value)
Records whether this attribute was in the source text.
voidsetValue(String value)
DOM L1 Assigns the value of the attribute; it will have one child, which is a text node with the specified value (same as setNodeValue).

Constructor Detail

DomAttr

protected DomAttr(Document owner, String namespaceURI, String name)
Constructs an Attr node associated with the specified document. The "specified" flag is initialized to true, since this DOM has no current "back door" mechanisms to manage default values so that every value must effectively be "specified".

This constructor should only be invoked by a Document as part of its createAttribute functionality, or through a subclass which is similarly used in a "Sub-DOM" style layer.

Parameters: owner The document with which this node is associated namespaceURI Combined with the local part of the name, this is used to uniquely identify a type of attribute name Name of this attribute, which may include a prefix

Method Detail

clone

public Object clone()
Shallow clone of the attribute, breaking all ties with any elements.

getName

public final String getName()
DOM L1 Returns the attribute name (same as getNodeName)

getNodeType

public final short getNodeType()
DOM L1 Returns the constant ATTRIBUTE_NODE.

getNodeValue

public String getNodeValue()
DOM L1 Returns the attribute value, with character and entity references substituted. NOTE: entity refs as children aren't currently handled.

getOwnerElement

public final Element getOwnerElement()
DOM L2 Returns the element with which this attribute is associated.

getSpecified

public final boolean getSpecified()
DOM L1 Returns true if a parser reported this was in the source text.

getValue

public final String getValue()
DOM L1 Returns the value of the attribute as a non-null string; same as getNodeValue. NOTE: entity refs as children aren't currently handled.

setNodeValue

public void setNodeValue(String value)
DOM L1 Assigns the attribute value; using this API, no entity or character references will exist. Causes a DOMAttrModified mutation event to be sent.

setOwnerElement

public final void setOwnerElement(Element e)
Records the element with which this attribute is associated.

setSpecified

public final void setSpecified(boolean value)
Records whether this attribute was in the source text.

setValue

public final void setValue(String value)
DOM L1 Assigns the value of the attribute; it will have one child, which is a text node with the specified value (same as setNodeValue).

Source code is under GPL (with library exception) in the JAXP project at http://www.gnu.org/software/classpathx/jaxp
This documentation was derived from that source code on 2013-01-12.