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Nested Interface - Real-World Example?

 
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Hi ... When attempting a test in http://www.danchisholm.net/july21/mybook/chapter10/exam1.html came across NESTED INTERFACES ... Below is the example as to how can nested interfaces be coded and compiled without errors ...

===
class Interface1
{
//nested interface
interface i
{
public void m1();
}

class hehe implements i
{
public void m1() { }
};
};

//interface i not visible outside the class Interface1
// needs Interface1.i to be mentioned to compile
class Try1 implements Interface1.i
{
public void m1() { }
};

interface i1
{
public void m2();
//nested interface
interface i2
{
public void m3();
}
}

//to implement inner interface i1.i2 has to mentioned
class Try2 implements i1,i1.i2
{
public void m2() { }
public void m3() { }

};
===

But I am not able to figure out a real world example as to where will it be useful. Can anyone throw light on the same. The reason why I posted this query in SCJP forum is that, ppl should know that nested interfaces are possible and should not be bowled out in exam. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

(Real Time in title changed to Real World)
[ October 26, 2004: Message edited by: Barry Gaunt ]
 
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Here's an article on their usefulness/uselessness

http://www.onjava.com/pub/a/onjava/excerpt/HardcoreJava_chap06/index2.html

And Flanagan said:


"Nested top-level classes and interfaces are typically used as a convenient way to group related classes."


More here:
http://www.developer.com/java/other/article.php/3358491
 
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Take a look at java.util.Map.Entry for a real world example.
 
Manikandan Jayaraman
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I can say that, having an interface within a class, sounds a bit logical as given in the link suggested by Louie. The example of the Inventry class containing the interface InventryItem was good, allowing the programmer to implement Inventry for his own InventryItem.

To Summarize, Interface within an Interface AND Class within an interface are allowed but NOT a GOOD PRACTICE.

And Ilja's Map.Entry was a real place where I saw it implemented too.

Thanks Louie and Ilja, for your valuable inputs !
 
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