LiteralExpression (Spring Framework 3.2.1.RELEASE API)
Date: 2013-01-24

org.springframework.expression.common

## Class LiteralExpression

- java.lang.Object
- - org.springframework.expression.common.LiteralExpression

- All Implemented Interfaces:
    Expression

      public class LiteralExpression
      extends Object
      implements Expression

  A very simple hardcoded implementation of the Expression interface that represents a string literal. It is used with CompositeStringExpression when representing a template expression which is made up of pieces - some being real expressions to be handled by an EL implementation like Spel, and some being just textual elements.
  Since:
    3.0
  Author:
    Andy Clement

- - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Constructor and Description
    `LiteralExpression(String literalValue)`

  - ### Method Summary

    Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `String` | `getExpressionString()` Returns the original string used to create this expression, unmodified.
    `String` | `getValue()` Evaluate this expression in the default standard context.
    `<T> T` | `getValue(Class<T> expectedResultType)` Evaluate the expression in the default context.
    `String` | `getValue(EvaluationContext context)` Evaluate this expression in the provided context and return the result of evaluation.
    `<T> T` | `getValue(EvaluationContext context, Class<T> expectedResultType)` Evaluate the expression in a specified context which can resolve references to properties, methods, types, etc - the type of the evaluation result is expected to be of a particular class and an exception will be thrown if it is not and cannot be converted to that type.
    `String` | `getValue(EvaluationContext context, Object rootObject)` Evaluate this expression in the provided context and return the result of evaluation, but use the supplied root context as an override for any default root object specified in the context.
    `<T> T` | `getValue(EvaluationContext context, Object rootObject, Class<T> desiredResultType)` Evaluate the expression in a specified context which can resolve references to properties, methods, types, etc - the type of the evaluation result is expected to be of a particular class and an exception will be thrown if it is not and cannot be converted to that type.
    `String` | `getValue(Object rootObject)` Evaluate this expression against the specified root object
    `<T> T` | `getValue(Object rootObject, Class<T> desiredResultType)` Evaluate the expression in the default context against the specified root object.
    `Class` | `getValueType()` Returns the most general type that can be passed to the `Expression.setValue(EvaluationContext, Object)` method using the default context.
    `Class` | `getValueType(EvaluationContext context)` Returns the most general type that can be passed to the `Expression.setValue(EvaluationContext, Object)` method for the given context.
    `Class` | `getValueType(EvaluationContext context, Object rootObject)` Returns the most general type that can be passed to the `Expression.setValue(EvaluationContext, Object)` method for the given context.
    `Class` | `getValueType(Object rootObject)` Returns the most general type that can be passed to the `Expression.setValue(EvaluationContext, Object)` method using the default context.
    `TypeDescriptor` | `getValueTypeDescriptor()` Returns the most general type that can be passed to the `Expression.setValue(EvaluationContext, Object)` method using the default context.
    `TypeDescriptor` | `getValueTypeDescriptor(EvaluationContext context)` Returns the most general type that can be passed to the `Expression.setValue(EvaluationContext, Object)` method for the given context.
    `TypeDescriptor` | `getValueTypeDescriptor(EvaluationContext context, Object rootObject)` Returns the most general type that can be passed to the `Expression.setValue(EvaluationContext, Object)` method for the given context.
    `TypeDescriptor` | `getValueTypeDescriptor(Object rootObject)` Returns the most general type that can be passed to the `Expression.setValue(EvaluationContext, Object)` method using the default context.
    `boolean` | `isWritable(EvaluationContext context)` Determine if an expression can be written to, i.e.
    `boolean` | `isWritable(EvaluationContext context, Object rootObject)` Determine if an expression can be written to, i.e.
    `boolean` | `isWritable(Object rootObject)` Determine if an expression can be written to, i.e.
    `void` | `setValue(EvaluationContext context, Object value)` Set this expression in the provided context to the value provided.
    `void` | `setValue(EvaluationContext context, Object rootObject, Object value)` Set this expression in the provided context to the value provided.
    `void` | `setValue(Object rootObject, Object value)` Set this expression in the provided context to the value provided.

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

      `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait`

- - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### LiteralExpression

          public LiteralExpression(String literalValue)

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### getExpressionString

          public final String getExpressionString()

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Returns the original string used to create this expression, unmodified.
      Specified by:
        `getExpressionString` in interface `Expression`
      Returns:
        the original expression string

    - #### getValue

          public String getValue()

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Evaluate this expression in the default standard context.
      Specified by:
        `getValue` in interface `Expression`
      Returns:
        the evaluation result

    - #### getValue

          public String getValue(EvaluationContext context)

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Evaluate this expression in the provided context and return the result of evaluation.
      Specified by:
        `getValue` in interface `Expression`
      Parameters:
        `context` - the context in which to evaluate the expression
      Returns:
        the evaluation result

    - #### getValue

          public String getValue(Object rootObject)

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Evaluate this expression against the specified root object
      Specified by:
        `getValue` in interface `Expression`
      Parameters:
        `rootObject` - the root object against which properties/etc will be resolved
      Returns:
        the evaluation result

    - #### getValueType

          public Class getValueType(EvaluationContext context)

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Returns the most general type that can be passed to the `Expression.setValue(EvaluationContext, Object)` method for the given context.
      Specified by:
        `getValueType` in interface `Expression`
      Parameters:
        `context` - the context in which to evaluate the expression
      Returns:
        the most general type of value that can be set on this context

    - #### getValueTypeDescriptor

          public TypeDescriptor getValueTypeDescriptor(EvaluationContext context)

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Returns the most general type that can be passed to the `Expression.setValue(EvaluationContext, Object)` method for the given context.
      Specified by:
        `getValueTypeDescriptor` in interface `Expression`
      Parameters:
        `context` - the context in which to evaluate the expression
      Returns:
        a type descriptor for the most general type of value that can be set on this context

    - #### getValueTypeDescriptor

          public TypeDescriptor getValueTypeDescriptor()

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Returns the most general type that can be passed to the `Expression.setValue(EvaluationContext, Object)` method using the default context.
      Specified by:
        `getValueTypeDescriptor` in interface `Expression`
      Returns:
        a type descriptor for the most general type of value that can be set on this context

    - #### setValue

          public void setValue(EvaluationContext context,
                      Object value)
                        throws EvaluationException

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Set this expression in the provided context to the value provided.
      Specified by:
        `setValue` in interface `Expression`
      Parameters:
        `context` - the context in which to set the value of the expression
        `value` - the new value
      Throws:
        `EvaluationException` - if there is a problem during evaluation

    - #### getValue

          public <T> T getValue(EvaluationContext context,
                       Class<T> expectedResultType)
                     throws EvaluationException

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Evaluate the expression in a specified context which can resolve references to properties, methods, types, etc - the type of the evaluation result is expected to be of a particular class and an exception will be thrown if it is not and cannot be converted to that type.
      Specified by:
        `getValue` in interface `Expression`
      Parameters:
        `context` - the context in which to evaluate the expression
        `expectedResultType` - the class the caller would like the result to be
      Returns:
        the evaluation result
      Throws:
        `EvaluationException` - if there is a problem during evaluation

    - #### getValue

          public <T> T getValue(Class<T> expectedResultType)
                     throws EvaluationException

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Evaluate the expression in the default context. If the result of the evaluation does not match (and cannot be converted to) the expected result type then an exception will be returned.
      Specified by:
        `getValue` in interface `Expression`
      Parameters:
        `expectedResultType` - the class the caller would like the result to be
      Returns:
        the evaluation result
      Throws:
        `EvaluationException` - if there is a problem during evaluation

    - #### isWritable

          public boolean isWritable(EvaluationContext context)

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Determine if an expression can be written to, i.e. setValue() can be called.
      Specified by:
        `isWritable` in interface `Expression`
      Parameters:
        `context` - the context in which the expression should be checked
      Returns:
        true if the expression is writable

    - #### getValueType

          public Class getValueType()

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Returns the most general type that can be passed to the `Expression.setValue(EvaluationContext, Object)` method using the default context.
      Specified by:
        `getValueType` in interface `Expression`
      Returns:
        the most general type of value that can be set on this context

    - #### getValue

          public <T> T getValue(Object rootObject,
                       Class<T> desiredResultType)
                     throws EvaluationException

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Evaluate the expression in the default context against the specified root object. If the result of the evaluation does not match (and cannot be converted to) the expected result type then an exception will be returned.
      Specified by:
        `getValue` in interface `Expression`
      Parameters:
        `rootObject` - the root object against which properties/etc will be resolved
        `desiredResultType` - the class the caller would like the result to be
      Returns:
        the evaluation result
      Throws:
        `EvaluationException` - if there is a problem during evaluation

    - #### getValue

          public String getValue(EvaluationContext context,
                        Object rootObject)
                          throws EvaluationException

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Evaluate this expression in the provided context and return the result of evaluation, but use the supplied root context as an override for any default root object specified in the context.
      Specified by:
        `getValue` in interface `Expression`
      Parameters:
        `context` - the context in which to evaluate the expression
        `rootObject` - the root object against which properties/etc will be resolved
      Returns:
        the evaluation result
      Throws:
        `EvaluationException` - if there is a problem during evaluation

    - #### getValue

          public <T> T getValue(EvaluationContext context,
                       Object rootObject,
                       Class<T> desiredResultType)
                     throws EvaluationException

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Evaluate the expression in a specified context which can resolve references to properties, methods, types, etc - the type of the evaluation result is expected to be of a particular class and an exception will be thrown if it is not and cannot be converted to that type. The supplied root object overrides any default specified on the supplied context.
      Specified by:
        `getValue` in interface `Expression`
      Parameters:
        `context` - the context in which to evaluate the expression
        `rootObject` - the root object against which properties/etc will be resolved
        `desiredResultType` - the class the caller would like the result to be
      Returns:
        the evaluation result
      Throws:
        `EvaluationException` - if there is a problem during evaluation

    - #### getValueType

          public Class getValueType(Object rootObject)
                             throws EvaluationException

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Returns the most general type that can be passed to the `Expression.setValue(EvaluationContext, Object)` method using the default context.
      Specified by:
        `getValueType` in interface `Expression`
      Parameters:
        `rootObject` - the root object against which to evaluate the expression
      Returns:
        the most general type of value that can be set on this context
      Throws:
        `EvaluationException` - if there is a problem determining the type

    - #### getValueType

          public Class getValueType(EvaluationContext context,
                           Object rootObject)
                             throws EvaluationException

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Returns the most general type that can be passed to the `Expression.setValue(EvaluationContext, Object)` method for the given context. The supplied root object overrides any specified in the context.
      Specified by:
        `getValueType` in interface `Expression`
      Parameters:
        `context` - the context in which to evaluate the expression
        `rootObject` - the root object against which to evaluate the expression
      Returns:
        the most general type of value that can be set on this context
      Throws:
        `EvaluationException` - if there is a problem determining the type

    - #### getValueTypeDescriptor

          public TypeDescriptor getValueTypeDescriptor(Object rootObject)
                                                throws EvaluationException

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Returns the most general type that can be passed to the `Expression.setValue(EvaluationContext, Object)` method using the default context.
      Specified by:
        `getValueTypeDescriptor` in interface `Expression`
      Parameters:
        `rootObject` - the root object against which to evaluate the expression
      Returns:
        a type descriptor for the most general type of value that can be set on this context
      Throws:
        `EvaluationException` - if there is a problem determining the type

    - #### getValueTypeDescriptor

          public TypeDescriptor getValueTypeDescriptor(EvaluationContext context,
                                              Object rootObject)
                                                throws EvaluationException

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Returns the most general type that can be passed to the `Expression.setValue(EvaluationContext, Object)` method for the given context. The supplied root object overrides any specified in the context.
      Specified by:
        `getValueTypeDescriptor` in interface `Expression`
      Parameters:
        `context` - the context in which to evaluate the expression
        `rootObject` - the root object against which to evaluate the expression
      Returns:
        a type descriptor for the most general type of value that can be set on this context
      Throws:
        `EvaluationException` - if there is a problem determining the type

    - #### isWritable

          public boolean isWritable(EvaluationContext context,
                           Object rootObject)
                             throws EvaluationException

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Determine if an expression can be written to, i.e. setValue() can be called. The supplied root object overrides any specified in the context.
      Specified by:
        `isWritable` in interface `Expression`
      Parameters:
        `context` - the context in which the expression should be checked
        `rootObject` - the root object against which to evaluate the expression
      Returns:
        true if the expression is writable
      Throws:
        `EvaluationException` - if there is a problem determining if it is writable

    - #### setValue

          public void setValue(EvaluationContext context,
                      Object rootObject,
                      Object value)
                        throws EvaluationException

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Set this expression in the provided context to the value provided. The supplied root object overrides any specified in the context.
      Specified by:
        `setValue` in interface `Expression`
      Parameters:
        `context` - the context in which to set the value of the expression
        `rootObject` - the root object against which to evaluate the expression
        `value` - the new value
      Throws:
        `EvaluationException` - if there is a problem during evaluation

    - #### isWritable

          public boolean isWritable(Object rootObject)
                             throws EvaluationException

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Determine if an expression can be written to, i.e. setValue() can be called.
      Specified by:
        `isWritable` in interface `Expression`
      Parameters:
        `rootObject` - the root object against which to evaluate the expression
      Returns:
        true if the expression is writable
      Throws:
        `EvaluationException` - if there is a problem determining if it is writable

    - #### setValue

          public void setValue(Object rootObject,
                      Object value)
                        throws EvaluationException

      Description copied from interface: `Expression`
      Set this expression in the provided context to the value provided.
      Specified by:
        `setValue` in interface `Expression`
      Parameters:
        `rootObject` - the root object against which to evaluate the expression
        `value` - the new value
      Throws:
        `EvaluationException` - if there is a problem during evaluation