Package one.microstream.reference

Interface Lazy<T>

Type Parameters:
T - the type of the lazily referenced element
All Superinterfaces:
Referencing<T>
All Known Implementing Classes:
Lazy.Default
public interface Lazy<T>
extends Referencing<T>
A reference providing generic lazy-loading functionality.

Note that the shortened name has been chosen intentionally to optimize readability in class design.

Also note that a type like this is strongly required in order to implement lazy loading behavior in an application in an architecturally clean and proper way. I.e. the application's data model design has to define that a certain reference is meant to be capable of lazy-loading. If such a definition is not done, a loading logic is strictly required to always load the encountered reference, as it is defined by the "normal" way of how references work. Any "tricks" of whatever framework to "sneak in" lazy loading behavior where it hasn't actually been defined are nothing more than dirty hacks and mess up if not destroy the program's consistency of state (e.g. antipatterns like secretly replacing a well-defined collection instance with a framework-proprietary proxy instance of a "similar" collection implementation). In proper architectured sofware, if a reference does not define lazy loading capacity, it is not wanted to have that capacity on the business logical level by design in the first place. Any attempts of saying "but I want it anyway in a sneaky 'transparent' way" indicate ambivalent conflicting design errors and thus in the end poor design.