Value.java

package org.djunits.value;

import java.io.Serializable;

import org.djunits.quantity.def.Quantity;
import org.djunits.unit.UnitInterface;

/**
 * Value is the generic interface for all Scalar, Vector and Matrix classes that forces implementation of a few unit- and
 * value-related methods. The Value interface defines a limited number of functions of Math to be implemented for absolute
 * values. Note: a lot of standard Math functions are <i>not</i> implemented, as they don't make sense with the units. E.g., a
 * cubic root of a Volume should give a Length, and not another volume... Trigoniometric functions should not give back the same
 * unit either. The abs() function is not included here, as abs() only makes sense for relative vales. What is the absolute
 * value of 14 January 2016? Therefore the set of functions that the interface forces to implement is rather limited, and
 * certainly not the entire range of java.lang.Math functions.
 * <p>
 * Copyright (c) 2015-2026 Delft University of Technology, PO Box 5, 2600 AA, Delft, the Netherlands. All rights reserved. <br>
 * BSD-style license. See <a href="https://djunits.org/docs/license.html">DJUNITS License</a>.
 * @author Alexander Verbraeck
 * @author Peter Knoppers
 * @param <Q> the quantity
 */
public interface Value<Q extends Quantity<Q>> extends Serializable
{
    /**
     * Retrieve the unit of this Value.
     * @return the unit of this Value
     */
    UnitInterface<Q> getDisplayUnit();

    /**
     * Indicate whether this is an Absolute Value.
     * @return whether this is an Absolute Value
     */
    default boolean isAbsolute()
    {
        return !isRelative();
    }

    /**
     * Indicate whether this is a Relative Value.
     * @return whether this is a Relative Value
     */
    boolean isRelative();

    /**
     * Return a description of this value, applying the default format for the value type.
     * @return a String with the value contents, using the default format.
     */
    String format();

    /**
     * Return a description of this value with the values expressed in the specified unit.
     * @param displayUnit the unit into which the values are converted for display
     * @return a String with the value contents expressed in the specified unit
     */
    String format(UnitInterface<Q> displayUnit);

}