/**
 * 
 */
package at.gv.egiz.pdfas.api.io;

import java.io.File;

/**
 * Tells that the IO element (DataSink or DataSource) is backed by a file in the local file system.
 * 
 * <p>
 * This is a hint that may be used by PDF-AS to optimize data access.
 * </p>
 * 
 * @author wprinz
 */
public interface FileBased
{
  
  /**
   * Returns the File "behind" this io element.
   * 
   * <p>
   * This is usually used to determine the file name itself.
   * </p>
   * 
   * @return Returns the File "behind" this io element.
   */
  public File getFile ();

}