/*
 * Copyright (c) 2008, Harald Kuhr
 * All rights reserved.
 *
 * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
 *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
 *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 *     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
 *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
 *       documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
 *     * Neither the name "TwelveMonkeys" nor the
 *       names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products
 *       derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
 *
 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
 * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
 * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
 * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR
 * CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
 * EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
 * PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR
 * PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
 * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
 * NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
 * SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 */

package com.twelvemonkeys.io.enc;

import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.OutputStream;

/**
 * Interface for endcoders.
 * An {@code Encoder} may be used with an {@code EncoderStream}, to perform
 * on-the-fly enoding to an {@code OutputStream}.
 * <p/>
 * Important note: Encoder implementations are typically not synchronized.
 *
 * @see Decoder
 * @see EncoderStream
 *
 * @author <a href="mailto:harald.kuhr@gmail.com">Harald Kuhr</a>
 * @version $Id: //depot/branches/personal/haraldk/twelvemonkeys/release-2/twelvemonkeys-core/src/main/java/com/twelvemonkeys/io/enc/Encoder.java#2 $
 */
public interface Encoder {
    
    /**
     * Encodes up to {@code pBuffer.length} bytes into the given input stream,
     * from the given buffer.
     *
     * @param pStream the outputstream to encode data to
     * @param pBuffer buffer to read data from
     * @param pOffset offset into the buffer array
     * @param pLength length of data in the buffer
     *
     * @throws java.io.IOException if an I/O error occurs
     */
    void encode(OutputStream pStream, byte[] pBuffer, int pOffset, int pLength) throws IOException;

    //TODO: int requiredBufferSize(): -1 == any, otherwise, use this buffer size
    // void flush()?
}
