RefAddr (Java Platform SE 8 )
Keywords: javax.naming.RefAddr class
Date: 2026-08-19

compact3
javax.naming

## Class RefAddr

- java.lang.Object
- - javax.naming.RefAddr

- All Implemented Interfaces:
    Serializable
  Direct Known Subclasses:
    BinaryRefAddr, StringRefAddr

      public abstract class RefAddr
      extends Object
      implements Serializable

  This class represents the address of a communications end-point. It consists of a type that describes the communication mechanism and an address contents determined by an RefAddr subclass.

  For example, an address type could be "BSD Printer Address", which specifies that it is an address to be used with the BSD printing protocol. Its contents could be the machine name identifying the location of the printer server that understands this protocol.

  A RefAddr is contained within a Reference.

  RefAddr is an abstract class. Concrete implementations of it determine its synchronization properties.

  Since:
    1.3
  See Also:
    `Reference`, `LinkRef`, `StringRefAddr`, `BinaryRefAddr`, Serialized Form

- - ### Field Summary

    Fields
    Modifier and Type | Field and Description
    --- | ---
    `protected String` | `addrType` Contains the type of this address.

  - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Modifier | Constructor and Description
    --- | ---
    `protected` | `RefAddr(String addrType)` Constructs a new instance of RefAddr using its address type.

  - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Instance Methods Abstract Methods Concrete Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `boolean` | `equals(Object obj)` Determines whether obj is equal to this RefAddr.
    `abstract Object` | `getContent()` Retrieves the contents of this address.
    `String` | `getType()` Retrieves the address type of this address.
    `int` | `hashCode()` Computes the hash code of this address using its address type and contents.
    `String` | `toString()` Generates the string representation of this address.

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

      `clone, finalize, getClass, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait`

- - ### Field Detail

    - #### addrType

          protected String addrType

      Contains the type of this address.

  - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### RefAddr

          protected RefAddr(String addrType)

      Constructs a new instance of RefAddr using its address type.
      Parameters:
        `addrType` - A non-null string describing the type of the address.

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### getType

          public String getType()

      Retrieves the address type of this address.
      Returns:
        The non-null address type of this address.

    - #### getContent

          public abstract Object getContent()

      Retrieves the contents of this address.
      Returns:
        The possibly null address contents.

    - #### equals

          public boolean equals(Object obj)

      Determines whether obj is equal to this RefAddr.

      obj is equal to this RefAddr all of these conditions are true

      - non-null
      - instance of RefAddr
      - obj has the same address type as this RefAddr (using String.compareTo())
      - both obj and this RefAddr's contents are null or they are equal (using the equals() test).
      Overrides:
        `equals` in class `Object`
      Parameters:
        `obj` - possibly null obj to check.
      Returns:
        true if obj is equal to this refaddr; false otherwise.
      See Also:
        `getContent()`, `getType()`

    - #### hashCode

          public int hashCode()

      Computes the hash code of this address using its address type and contents. The hash code is the sum of the hash code of the address type and the hash code of the address contents.
      Overrides:
        `hashCode` in class `Object`
      Returns:
        The hash code of this address as an int.
      See Also:
        `Object.hashCode()`

    - #### toString

          public String toString()

      Generates the string representation of this address. The string consists of the address's type and contents with labels. This representation is intended for display only and not to be parsed.
      Overrides:
        `toString` in class `Object`
      Returns:
        The non-null string representation of this address.

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