Module java.xml
Package org.xml.sax

Interface Locator

All Known Subinterfaces:
Locator2
All Known Implementing Classes:
Locator2Impl, LocatorImpl

public interface Locator
Interface for associating a SAX event with a document location.

If a SAX parser provides location information to the SAX application, it does so by implementing this interface and then passing an instance to the application using the content handler's setDocumentLocator method. The application can use the object to obtain the location of any other SAX event in the XML source document.

Note that the results returned by the object will be valid only during the scope of each callback method: the application will receive unpredictable results if it attempts to use the locator at any other time, or after parsing completes.

SAX parsers are not required to supply a locator, but they are very strongly encouraged to do so. If the parser supplies a locator, it must do so before reporting any other document events. If no locator has been set by the time the application receives the startDocument event, the application should assume that a locator is not available.

Since:
1.4, SAX 1.0
See Also: