org.apache.commons.collections4.iterators

## Class IteratorChain<E>

- java.lang.Object
- - org.apache.commons.collections4.iterators.IteratorChain<E>

- All Implemented Interfaces:
    Iterator<E>

      public class IteratorChain<E>
      extends Object
      implements Iterator<E>

  An IteratorChain is an Iterator that wraps a number of Iterators.

  This class makes multiple iterators look like one to the caller. When any method from the Iterator interface is called, the IteratorChain will delegate to a single underlying Iterator. The IteratorChain will invoke the Iterators in sequence until all Iterators are exhausted.

  Under many circumstances, linking Iterators together in this manner is more efficient (and convenient) than reading out the contents of each Iterator into a List and creating a new Iterator.

  Calling a method that adds new Iterator after a method in the Iterator interface has been called will result in an UnsupportedOperationException.

  NOTE: As from version 3.0, the IteratorChain may contain no iterators. In this case the class will function as an empty iterator.

  NOTE: As from version 4.0, the IteratorChain stores the iterators in a queue and removes any reference to them as soon as they are not used anymore. Thus the methods `setIterator(Iterator)` and `getIterators()` have been removed and `size()` will return the number of remaining iterators in the queue.

  Since:
    2.1
  Version:
    $Id: IteratorChain.java 1482514 2013-05-14 18:36:12Z tn $

- - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Constructor and Description
    `IteratorChain()` Construct an IteratorChain with no Iterators.
    `IteratorChain(Collection<Iterator<? extends E>> iteratorChain)` Constructs a new `IteratorChain` over the collection of iterators.
    `IteratorChain(Iterator<? extends E>... iteratorChain)` Constructs a new `IteratorChain` over the array of iterators.
    `IteratorChain(Iterator<? extends E> iterator)` Construct an IteratorChain with a single Iterator.
    `IteratorChain(Iterator<? extends E> first, Iterator<? extends E> second)` Constructs a new `IteratorChain` over the two given iterators.

  - ### Method Summary

    Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `void` | `addIterator(Iterator<? extends E> iterator)` Add an Iterator to the end of the chain
    `boolean` | `hasNext()` Return true if any Iterator in the IteratorChain has a remaining element.
    `boolean` | `isLocked()` Determine if modifications can still be made to the IteratorChain.
    `E` | `next()` Returns the next Object of the current Iterator
    `void` | `remove()` Removes from the underlying collection the last element returned by the Iterator.
    `int` | `size()` Returns the remaining number of Iterators in the current IteratorChain.
    `protected void` | `updateCurrentIterator()` Updates the current iterator field to ensure that the current Iterator is not exhausted

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

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

- - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### IteratorChain

          public IteratorChain()

      Construct an IteratorChain with no Iterators.

      You will normally use `addIterator(Iterator)` to add some iterators after using this constructor.

    - #### IteratorChain

          public IteratorChain(Iterator<? extends E> iterator)

      Construct an IteratorChain with a single Iterator.

      This method takes one iterator. The newly constructed iterator will iterate through that iterator. Thus calling this constructor on its own will have no effect other than decorating the input iterator.

      You will normally use `addIterator(Iterator)` to add some more iterators after using this constructor.

      Parameters:
        `iterator` - the first child iterator in the IteratorChain, not null
      Throws:
        `NullPointerException` - if the iterator is null

    - #### IteratorChain

          public IteratorChain(Iterator<? extends E> first,
                       Iterator<? extends E> second)

      Constructs a new `IteratorChain` over the two given iterators.

      This method takes two iterators. The newly constructed iterator will iterate through each one of the input iterators in turn.

      Parameters:
        `first` - the first child iterator in the IteratorChain, not null
        `second` - the second child iterator in the IteratorChain, not null
      Throws:
        `NullPointerException` - if either iterator is null

    - #### IteratorChain

          public IteratorChain(Iterator<? extends E>... iteratorChain)

      Constructs a new `IteratorChain` over the array of iterators.

      This method takes an array of iterators. The newly constructed iterator will iterate through each one of the input iterators in turn.

      Parameters:
        `iteratorChain` - the array of iterators, not null
      Throws:
        `NullPointerException` - if iterators array is or contains null

    - #### IteratorChain

          public IteratorChain(Collection<Iterator<? extends E>> iteratorChain)

      Constructs a new `IteratorChain` over the collection of iterators.

      This method takes a collection of iterators. The newly constructed iterator will iterate through each one of the input iterators in turn.

      Parameters:
        `iteratorChain` - the collection of iterators, not null
      Throws:
        `NullPointerException` - if iterators collection is or contains null
        `ClassCastException` - if iterators collection doesn't contain an iterator

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### addIterator

          public void addIterator(Iterator<? extends E> iterator)

      Add an Iterator to the end of the chain
      Parameters:
        `iterator` - Iterator to add
      Throws:
        `IllegalStateException` - if I've already started iterating
        `NullPointerException` - if the iterator is null

    - #### size

          public int size()

      Returns the remaining number of Iterators in the current IteratorChain.
      Returns:
        Iterator count

    - #### isLocked

          public boolean isLocked()

      Determine if modifications can still be made to the IteratorChain. IteratorChains cannot be modified once they have executed a method from the Iterator interface.
      Returns:
        true if IteratorChain cannot be modified, false if it can

    - #### updateCurrentIterator

          protected void updateCurrentIterator()

      Updates the current iterator field to ensure that the current Iterator is not exhausted

    - #### hasNext

          public boolean hasNext()

      Return true if any Iterator in the IteratorChain has a remaining element.
      Specified by:
        `hasNext` in interface `Iterator<E>`
      Returns:
        true if elements remain

    - #### next

          public E next()

      Returns the next Object of the current Iterator
      Specified by:
        `next` in interface `Iterator<E>`
      Returns:
        Object from the current Iterator
      Throws:
        `NoSuchElementException` - if all the Iterators are exhausted

    - #### remove

          public void remove()

      Removes from the underlying collection the last element returned by the Iterator. As with next() and hasNext(), this method calls remove() on the underlying Iterator. Therefore, this method may throw an UnsupportedOperationException if the underlying Iterator does not support this method.
      Specified by:
        `remove` in interface `Iterator<E>`
      Throws:
        `UnsupportedOperationException` - if the remove operator is not supported by the underlying Iterator
        `IllegalStateException` - if the next method has not yet been called, or the remove method has already been called after the last call to the next method.

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