## org.apache.ivy.plugins.matcher
Interface PatternMatcher

All Known Implementing Classes:
  AbstractPatternMatcher, ExactOrRegexpPatternMatcher, ExactPatternMatcher, GlobPatternMatcher, RegexpPatternMatcher

    public interface PatternMatcher

Interface for a pattern matcher.

The pattern matcher is the main abstraction regarding the matching of an expression. Implementation may vary depending on the expression syntax handling that is desired.

Field Summary
`static java.lang.String` `ANY_EXPRESSION` Any expression string: '*'
`static java.lang.String` `EXACT` 'exact' pattern matcher name
`static java.lang.String` `EXACT_OR_REGEXP` pattern matcher name 'exactOrRegexp'
`static java.lang.String` `GLOB` pattern matcher 'glob'
`static java.lang.String` `REGEXP` pattern matcher name 'regexp'

Method Summary
`Matcher` `getMatcher(java.lang.String expression)` Return the matcher for the given expression.
`java.lang.String` `getName()` return the name of this pattern matcher

Field Detail

### EXACT

    static final java.lang.String EXACT

  'exact' pattern matcher name

  See Also:
    Constant Field Values

### REGEXP

    static final java.lang.String REGEXP

  pattern matcher name 'regexp'

  See Also:
    Constant Field Values

### GLOB

    static final java.lang.String GLOB

  pattern matcher 'glob'

  See Also:
    Constant Field Values

### EXACT_OR_REGEXP

    static final java.lang.String EXACT_OR_REGEXP

  pattern matcher name 'exactOrRegexp'

  See Also:
    Constant Field Values

### ANY_EXPRESSION

    static final java.lang.String ANY_EXPRESSION

  Any expression string: '*'

  See Also:
    Constant Field Values

Method Detail

### getMatcher

    Matcher getMatcher(java.lang.String expression)

  Return the matcher for the given expression.

  Parameters:
    `expression` - the expression to be matched. Cannot be null ?
  Returns:
    the matcher instance for the given expression. Never null.

### getName

    java.lang.String getName()

  return the name of this pattern matcher

  Returns:
    the name of this pattern matcher. Never null.
  See Also:
    `EXACT`, `REGEXP`, `GLOB`, `EXACT_OR_REGEXP`