# Interface RemoteRef

All Superinterfaces:
  `Externalizable, Serializable`

All Known Subinterfaces:
  `ServerRef`

public interface RemoteRef extends Externalizable
`RemoteRef` represents the handle for a remote object. A `RemoteStub` uses a remote reference to carry out a remote method invocation to a remote object.

Since:
  1.1
See Also:
  - `RemoteStub`

- ## Field Summary

  Fields
  Modifier and Type
  Field
  Description
  `static final String`
  `packagePrefix`
  Initialize the server package prefix: assumes that the implementation of server ref classes (e.g., UnicastRef, UnicastServerRef) are located in the package defined by the prefix.
  `static final long`
  `serialVersionUID`
  Deprecated.
  A `serialVersionUID` field in an interface is ineffectual.

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `void`
  `done(RemoteCall call)`
  Deprecated.
  1.2 style stubs no longer use this method.
  `String`
  `getRefClass(ObjectOutput out)`
  Returns the class name of the ref type to be serialized onto the stream 'out'.
  `Object`
  `invoke(Remote obj, Method method, Object[] params, long opnum)`
  Invoke a method.
  `void`
  `invoke(RemoteCall call)`
  Deprecated.
  1.2 style stubs no longer use this method.
  `RemoteCall`
  `newCall(RemoteObject obj, Operation[] op, int opnum, long hash)`
  Deprecated.
  1.2 style stubs no longer use this method.
  `boolean`
  `remoteEquals(RemoteRef obj)`
  Compares two remote objects for equality.
  `int`
  `remoteHashCode()`
  Returns a hashcode for a remote object.
  `String`
  `remoteToString()`
  Returns a String that represents the reference of this remote object.

  ### Methods declared in interface Externalizable

  `readExternal, writeExternal`
  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `void`
  `readExternal(ObjectInput in)`
  The object implements the readExternal method to restore its contents by calling the methods of DataInput for primitive types and readObject for objects, strings and arrays.
  `void`
  `writeExternal(ObjectOutput out)`
  The object implements the writeExternal method to save its contents by calling the methods of DataOutput for its primitive values or calling the writeObject method of ObjectOutput for objects, strings, and arrays.

- ## Field Details

  - ### serialVersionUID

    @Deprecated static final long serialVersionUID
    Deprecated.
    A `serialVersionUID` field in an interface is ineffectual. Do not use; no replacement.
    indicate compatibility with JDK 1.1.x version of class.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

  - ### packagePrefix

    static final String packagePrefix
    Initialize the server package prefix: assumes that the implementation of server ref classes (e.g., UnicastRef, UnicastServerRef) are located in the package defined by the prefix.
    See Also:
      - Constant Field Values

- ## Method Details

  - ### invoke

    Object invoke(Remote obj, Method method, Object[] params, long opnum) throws Exception
    Invoke a method. This form of delegating method invocation to the reference allows the reference to take care of setting up the connection to the remote host, marshaling some representation for the method and parameters, then communicating the method invocation to the remote host. This method either returns the result of a method invocation on the remote object which resides on the remote host or throws a RemoteException if the call failed or an application-level exception if the remote invocation throws an exception.
    Parameters:
      `obj` - the object that contains the RemoteRef (e.g., the RemoteStub for the object.
      `method` - the method to be invoked
      `params` - the parameter list
      `opnum` - a hash that may be used to represent the method
    Returns:
      result of remote method invocation
    Throws:
      `Exception` - if any exception occurs during remote method invocation
    Since:
      1.2

  - ### newCall

    @Deprecated RemoteCall newCall(RemoteObject obj, Operation[] op, int opnum, long hash) throws RemoteException
    Deprecated.
    1.2 style stubs no longer use this method. Instead of using a sequence of method calls on the stub's the remote reference (`newCall`, `invoke`, and `done`), a stub uses a single method, `invoke(Remote, Method, Object[], int)`, on the remote reference to carry out parameter marshalling, remote method executing and unmarshalling of the return value.
    Creates an appropriate call object for a new remote method invocation on this object. Passing operation array and index, allows the stubs generator to assign the operation indexes and interpret them. The remote reference may need the operation to encode in the call.
    Parameters:
      `obj` - remote stub through which to make call
      `op` - array of stub operations
      `opnum` - operation number
      `hash` - stub/skeleton interface hash
    Returns:
      call object representing remote call
    Throws:
      `RemoteException` - if failed to initiate new remote call
    Since:
      1.1
    See Also:
      - `invoke(Remote,java.lang.reflect.Method,Object[],long)`

  - ### invoke

    @Deprecated void invoke(RemoteCall call) throws Exception
    Deprecated.
    1.2 style stubs no longer use this method. Instead of using a sequence of method calls to the remote reference (`newCall`, `invoke`, and `done`), a stub uses a single method, `invoke(Remote, Method, Object[], int)`, on the remote reference to carry out parameter marshalling, remote method executing and unmarshalling of the return value.
    Executes the remote call. Invoke will raise any "user" exceptions which should pass through and not be caught by the stub. If any exception is raised during the remote invocation, invoke should take care of cleaning up the connection before raising the "user" or remote exception.
    Parameters:
      `call` - object representing remote call
    Throws:
      `Exception` - if any exception occurs during remote method
    Since:
      1.1
    See Also:
      - `invoke(Remote,java.lang.reflect.Method,Object[],long)`

  - ### done

    @Deprecated void done(RemoteCall call) throws RemoteException
    Deprecated.
    1.2 style stubs no longer use this method. Instead of using a sequence of method calls to the remote reference (`newCall`, `invoke`, and `done`), a stub uses a single method, `invoke(Remote, Method, Object[], int)`, on the remote reference to carry out parameter marshalling, remote method executing and unmarshalling of the return value.
    Allows the remote reference to clean up (or reuse) the connection. Done should only be called if the invoke returns successfully (non-exceptionally) to the stub.
    Parameters:
      `call` - object representing remote call
    Throws:
      `RemoteException` - if remote error occurs during call cleanup
    Since:
      1.1
    See Also:
      - `invoke(Remote,java.lang.reflect.Method,Object[],long)`

  - ### getRefClass

    String getRefClass(ObjectOutput out)
    Returns the class name of the ref type to be serialized onto the stream 'out'.
    Parameters:
      `out` - the output stream to which the reference will be serialized
    Returns:
      the class name (without package qualification) of the reference type
    Since:
      1.1

  - ### remoteHashCode

    int remoteHashCode()
    Returns a hashcode for a remote object. Two remote object stubs that refer to the same remote object will have the same hash code (in order to support remote objects as keys in hash tables).
    Returns:
      remote object hashcode
    Since:
      1.1
    See Also:
      - `Hashtable`

  - ### remoteEquals

    boolean remoteEquals(RemoteRef obj)
    Compares two remote objects for equality. Returns a boolean that indicates whether this remote object is equivalent to the specified Object. This method is used when a remote object is stored in a hashtable.
    Parameters:
      `obj` - the Object to compare with
    Returns:
      true if these Objects are equal; false otherwise.
    Since:
      1.1
    See Also:
      - `Hashtable`

  - ### remoteToString

    String remoteToString()
    Returns a String that represents the reference of this remote object.
    Returns:
      string representing remote object reference
    Since:
      1.1