# Class UnknownElementException

java.lang.Object
java.lang.Throwable
java.lang.Exception
java.lang.RuntimeException
javax.lang.model.UnknownEntityException
javax.lang.model.element.UnknownElementException

All Implemented Interfaces:
  `Serializable`

public class UnknownElementException extends UnknownEntityException
Indicates that an unknown kind of element was encountered. This can occur if the language evolves and new kinds of elements are added to the `Element` hierarchy. May be thrown by an element visitor to indicate that the visitor was created for a prior version of the language.

Since:
  1.6
See Also:
  - `ElementVisitor.visitUnknown(javax.lang.model.element.Element, P)`
  - Serialized Form

- ## Constructor Summary

  Constructors
  Constructor
  Description
  `UnknownElementException(Element e, Object p)`
  Creates a new `UnknownElementException`.

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `Object`
  `getArgument()`
  Returns the additional argument.
  `Element`
  `getUnknownElement()`
  Returns the unknown element.

  ### Methods declared in class java.lang.Throwable

  `addSuppressed, fillInStackTrace, getCause, getLocalizedMessage, getMessage, getStackTrace, getSuppressed, initCause, printStackTrace, printStackTrace, printStackTrace, setStackTrace, toString`

  ### Methods declared in class java.lang.Object

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

- ## Constructor Details

  - ### UnknownElementException

    public UnknownElementException(Element e, Object p)
    Creates a new `UnknownElementException`. The `p` parameter may be used to pass in an additional argument with information about the context in which the unknown element was encountered; for example, the visit methods of `ElementVisitor` may pass in their additional parameter.
    Parameters:
      `e` - the unknown element, may be `null`
      `p` - an additional parameter, may be `null`

- ## Method Details

  - ### getUnknownElement

    public Element getUnknownElement()
    Returns the unknown element. The value may be unavailable if this exception has been serialized and then read back in.
    Returns:
      the unknown element, or `null` if unavailable

  - ### getArgument

    public Object getArgument()
    Returns the additional argument.
    Returns:
      the additional argument, or `null` if unavailable