001// ***************************************************************************************************************************
002// * Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file *
003// * distributed with this work for additional information regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file        *
004// * to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance            *
005// * with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at                                                              *
006// *                                                                                                                         *
007// *  http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0                                                                             *
008// *                                                                                                                         *
009// * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software distributed under the License is distributed on an  *
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011// * specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License.                                              *
012// ***************************************************************************************************************************
013package org.apache.juneau;
014
015import static org.apache.juneau.internal.StringUtils.*;
016
017import java.io.*;
018import java.lang.reflect.*;
019import java.util.*;
020
021import org.apache.juneau.json.*;
022import org.apache.juneau.parser.*;
023import org.apache.juneau.serializer.*;
024import org.apache.juneau.utils.*;
025
026/**
027 * Java implementation of a JSON array.
028 *
029 * <p>
030 * An extension of {@link LinkedList}, so all methods available to in that class are also available to this class.
031 *
032 * <p>
033 * Note that the use of this class is optional.
034 * The serializers will accept any objects that implement the {@link Collection} interface.
035 * But this class provides some useful additional functionality when working with JSON models constructed from Java
036 * Collections Framework objects.
037 * For example, a constructor is provided for converting a JSON array string directly into a {@link List}.
038 * It also contains accessor methods for to avoid common typecasting when accessing elements in a list.
039 *
040 * <h5 class='section'>Example:</h5>
041 * <p class='bcode w800'>
042 *    <jc>// Construct an empty List</jc>
043 *    List l = <jk>new</jk> ObjectList();
044 *
045 *    <jc>// Construct a list of objects using various methods</jc>
046 *    l = <jk>new</jk> ObjectList().append(<js>"foo"</js>).append(123).append(<jk>true</jk>);
047 *    l = <jk>new</jk> ObjectList().append(<js>"foo"</js>, 123, <jk>true</jk>);  <jc>// Equivalent</jc>
048 *    l = <jk>new</jk> ObjectList(<js>"foo"</js>, 123, <jk>true</jk>);  <jc>// Equivalent</jc>
049 *
050 *    <jc>// Construct a list of integers from JSON</jc>
051 *    l = <jk>new</jk> ObjectList(<js>"[1,2,3]"</js>);
052 *
053 *    <jc>// Construct a list of generic ObjectMap objects from JSON</jc>
054 *    l = <jk>new</jk> ObjectList(<js>"[{foo:'bar'},{baz:'bing'}]"</js>);
055 *
056 *    <jc>// Construct a list of integers from XML</jc>
057 *    String xml = <js>"&lt;array&gt;&lt;number&gt;1&lt;/number&gt;&lt;number&gt;2&lt;/number&gt;&lt;number&gt;3&lt;/number&gt;&lt;/array&gt;"</js>;
058 *    l = <jk>new</jk> ObjectList(xml, DataFormat.<jsf>XML</jsf>);
059 *    l = (List)XmlParser.<jsf>DEFAULT</jsf>.parse(xml);  <jc>// Equivalent</jc>
060 *    l = (List)XmlParser.<jsf>DEFAULT</jsf>.parse(Object.<jk>class</jk>, xml);  <jc>// Equivalent</jc>
061 *    l = XmlParser.<jsf>DEFAULT</jsf>.parse(List.<jk>class</jk>, xml);  <jc>// Equivalent</jc>
062 *    l = XmlParser.<jsf>DEFAULT</jsf>.parse(ObjectList.<jk>class</jk>, xml);  <jc>// Equivalent</jc>
063 *
064 *    <jc>// Construct JSON from ObjectList</jc>
065 *    l = <jk>new</jk> ObjectList(<js>"[{foo:'bar'},{baz:'bing'}]"</js>);
066 *    String json = l.toString();  <jc>// Produces "[{foo:'bar'},{baz:'bing'}]"</jc>
067 *    json = l.toString(JsonSerializer.<jsf>DEFAULT_CONDENSED</jsf>);  <jc>// Equivalent</jc>
068 *    json = JsonSerializer.<jsf>DEFAULT_CONDENSED</jsf>.serialize(l);  <jc>// Equivalent</jc>
069 *
070 *    <jc>// Get one of the entries in the list as an Integer</jc>
071 *    l = <jk>new</jk> ObjectList(<js>"[1,2,3]"</js>);
072 *    Integer i = l.getInt(1);
073 *    i = l.get(Integer.<jk>class</jk>, 1);  <jc>// Equivalent</jc>
074 *
075 *    <jc>// Get one of the entries in the list as an Float</jc>
076 *    l = <jk>new</jk> ObjectList(<js>"[1,2,3]"</js>);
077 *    Float f = l.getFloat(1); <jc>// Returns 2f </jc>
078 *    f = l.get(Float.<jk>class</jk>, 1);  <jc>// Equivalent</jc>
079 *
080 *    <jc>// Same as above, except converted to a String</jc>
081 *    l = <jk>new</jk> ObjectList(<js>"[1,2,3]"</js>);
082 *    String s = l.getString(1); <jc>// Returns "2" </jc>
083 *    s = l.get(String.<jk>class</jk>, 1);  <jc>// Equivalent</jc>
084 *
085 *    <jc>// Get one of the entries in the list as a bean (converted to a bean if it isn't already one)</jc>
086 *    l = <jk>new</jk> ObjectList(<js>"[{name:'John Smith',age:45}]"</js>);
087 *    Person p = l.get(Person.<jk>class</jk>, 0);
088 *
089 *    <jc>// Iterate over a list of beans using the elements() method</jc>
090 *    ObjectList ObjectList = <jk>new</jk> ObjectList(<js>"[{name:'John Smith',age:45}]"</js>);
091 *    <jk>for</jk> (Person p : ObjectList.elements(Person.<jk>class</jk>) {
092 *       <jc>// Do something with p</jc>
093 *    }
094 * </p>
095 *
096 * <p>
097 * This class is not thread safe.
098 */
099public class ObjectList extends LinkedList<Object> {
100   private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
101
102   transient BeanSession session = null;
103   private transient PojoRest pojoRest;
104
105   /**
106    * An empty read-only ObjectList.
107    */
108   public static final ObjectList EMPTY_LIST = new ObjectList() {
109      private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
110
111      @Override /* List */
112      public void add(int location, Object object) {
113         throw new UnsupportedOperationException();
114      }
115
116      @Override /* List */
117      public ListIterator<Object> listIterator(final int location) {
118         return Collections.emptyList().listIterator(location);
119      }
120
121      @Override /* List */
122      public Object remove(int location) {
123         throw new UnsupportedOperationException();
124      }
125
126      @Override /* List */
127      public Object set(int location, Object object) {
128         throw new UnsupportedOperationException();
129      }
130
131      @Override /* List */
132      public List<Object> subList(int start, int end) {
133         return Collections.emptyList().subList(start, end);
134      }
135   };
136
137   /**
138    * Static constructor from JSON string.
139    *
140    * @param s JSON initialization string.  Can be <jk>null</jk>.
141    * @return A new {@link ObjectList} object, or <jk>null</jk> if the input is <jk>null</jk>.
142    * @throws ParseException Invalid JSON string.
143    */
144   public static ObjectList parse(CharSequence s) throws ParseException {
145      return s == null ? null : new ObjectList(s);
146   }
147
148   /**
149    * Construct a JSON array directly from text using the specified parser.
150    *
151    * @param s The string being parsed.
152    * @param p The parser to use to parse the input.
153    * @throws ParseException Malformed input encountered.
154    */
155   public ObjectList(CharSequence s, Parser p) throws ParseException {
156      this(p == null ? null : p.createBeanSession());
157      if (p == null)
158         p = JsonParser.DEFAULT;
159      if (s != null)
160         p.parseIntoCollection(s, this, bs().object());
161   }
162
163   /**
164    * Shortcut for <code><jk>new</jk> ObjectList(String,JsonParser.<jsf>DEFAULT</jsf>);</code>
165    *
166    * @param s The string being parsed.
167    * @throws ParseException Malformed input encountered.
168    */
169   public ObjectList(CharSequence s) throws ParseException {
170      this(s, null);
171   }
172
173   /**
174    * Construct a JSON array directly from a reader using the specified parser.
175    *
176    * @param r
177    *    The reader to read from.
178    *    Will automatically be wrapped in a {@link BufferedReader} if it isn't already a BufferedReader.
179    * @param p The parser to use to parse the input.
180    * @throws ParseException Malformed input encountered.
181    * @throws IOException If a problem occurred trying to read from the reader.
182    */
183   public ObjectList(Reader r, Parser p) throws ParseException, IOException {
184      this(p == null ? null : p.createBeanSession());
185      parseReader(r, p);
186   }
187
188   /**
189    * Shortcut for <code><jk>new</jk> ObjectList(reader, JsonParser.<jsf>DEFAULT</jsf>)</code>.
190    *
191    * @param r
192    *    The reader to read from.
193    *    The reader will be wrapped in a {@link BufferedReader} if it isn't already.
194    * @throws ParseException Malformed input encountered.
195    * @throws IOException If a problem occurred trying to read from the reader.
196    */
197   public ObjectList(Reader r) throws ParseException, IOException {
198      parseReader(r, JsonParser.DEFAULT);
199   }
200
201   private void parseReader(Reader r, Parser p) throws ParseException {
202      if (p == null)
203         p = JsonParser.DEFAULT;
204      p.parseIntoCollection(r, this, bs().object());
205   }
206
207   /**
208    * Construct an empty JSON array (an empty {@link LinkedList}).
209    */
210   public ObjectList() {
211   }
212
213   /**
214    * Construct an empty JSON array (an empty {@link LinkedList}) with the specified bean context.
215    *
216    * @param session The bean context to associate with this object list for creating beans.
217    */
218   public ObjectList(BeanSession session) {
219      super();
220      this.session = session;
221   }
222
223   /**
224    * Construct a JSON array and fill it with the specified objects.
225    *
226    * @param o A list of objects to add to this list.
227    */
228   public ObjectList(Object... o) {
229      super(Arrays.asList(o));
230   }
231
232   /**
233    * Construct a JSON array and fill it with the specified collection of objects.
234    *
235    * @param c A list of objects to add to this list.
236    */
237   public ObjectList(Collection<?> c) {
238      super(c);
239   }
240
241   /**
242    * Override the default bean session used for converting POJOs.
243    *
244    * <p>
245    * Default is {@link BeanContext#DEFAULT}, which is sufficient in most cases.
246    *
247    * <p>
248    * Useful if you're serializing/parsing beans with transforms defined.
249    *
250    * @param session The new bean session.
251    * @return This object (for method chaining).
252    */
253   public ObjectList setBeanSession(BeanSession session) {
254      this.session = session;
255      return this;
256   }
257
258   /**
259    * Returns the {@link BeanSession} currently associated with this list.
260    *
261    * @return The {@link BeanSession} currently associated with this list.
262    */
263   public BeanSession getBeanSession() {
264      return session;
265   }
266
267   /**
268    * Convenience method for adding multiple objects to this list.
269    *
270    * @param o The objects to add to the list.
271    * @return This object (for method chaining).
272    */
273   public ObjectList append(Object...o) {
274      for (Object o2 : o)
275         add(o2);
276      return this;
277   }
278
279   /**
280    * Convenience method for appending another list to this list.
281    *
282    * @param l
283    *    The list containing the elements to append to this list.
284    *    <br>Can be <jk>null</jk>.
285    * @return This object (for method chaining).
286    */
287   public ObjectList appendAll(ObjectList l) {
288      if (l != null)
289         addAll(l);
290      return this;
291   }
292
293   /**
294    * Convenience method for adding multiple objects to this list.
295    *
296    * <p>
297    * <jk>null</jk> and empty strings are skipped.
298    *
299    * @param o The objects to add to the list.
300    * @return This object (for method chaining).
301    */
302   public ObjectList appendIfNotEmpty(String...o) {
303      for (String s : o)
304         if (isNotEmpty(s))
305            add(s);
306      return this;
307   }
308
309   /**
310    * Convenience method for adding multiple objects to this list.
311    *
312    * <p>
313    * <jk>null</jk> values are skipped.
314    *
315    * @param o The objects to add to the list.
316    * @return This object (for method chaining).
317    */
318   public ObjectList appendIfNotNull(Object...o) {
319      for (Object o2 : o)
320         if (o2 != null)
321            add(o2);
322      return this;
323   }
324
325   /**
326    * Get the entry at the specified index, converted to the specified type.
327    *
328    * <p>
329    * This is the preferred get method for simple types.
330    *
331    * <h5 class='section'>Examples:</h5>
332    * <p class='bcode w800'>
333    *    ObjectList l = <jk>new</jk> ObjectList(<js>"..."</js>);
334    *
335    *    <jc>// Value converted to a string.</jc>
336    *    String s = l.get(1, String.<jk>class</jk>);
337    *
338    *    <jc>// Value converted to a bean.</jc>
339    *    MyBean b = l.get(2, MyBean.<jk>class</jk>);
340    *
341    *    <jc>// Value converted to a bean array.</jc>
342    *    MyBean[] ba = l.get(3, MyBean[].<jk>class</jk>);
343    *
344    *    <jc>// Value converted to a linked-list of objects.</jc>
345    *    List l1 = l.get(4, LinkedList.<jk>class</jk>);
346    *
347    *    <jc>// Value converted to a map of object keys/values.</jc>
348    *    Map m1 = l.get(5, TreeMap.<jk>class</jk>);
349    * </p>
350    *
351    * <p>
352    * See {@link BeanSession#convertToType(Object, ClassMeta)} for the list of valid data conversions.
353    *
354    * @param index The index into this list.
355    * @param type The type of object to convert the entry to.
356    * @param <T> The type of object to convert the entry to.
357    * @return The converted entry.
358    */
359   public <T> T get(int index, Class<T> type) {
360      return bs().convertToType(get(index), type);
361   }
362
363   /**
364    * Get the entry at the specified index, converted to the specified type.
365    *
366    * <p>
367    * The type can be a simple type (e.g. beans, strings, numbers) or parameterized type (collections/maps).
368    *
369    * <h5 class='section'>Examples:</h5>
370    * <p class='bcode w800'>
371    *    ObjectList l = <jk>new</jk> ObjectList(<js>"..."</js>);
372    *
373    *    <jc>// Value converted to a linked-list of strings.</jc>
374    *    List&lt;String&gt; l1 = l.get(1, LinkedList.<jk>class</jk>, String.<jk>class</jk>);
375    *
376    *    <jc>// Value converted to a linked-list of beans.</jc>
377    *    List&lt;MyBean&gt; l2 = l.get(2, LinkedList.<jk>class</jk>, MyBean.<jk>class</jk>);
378    *
379    *    <jc>// Value converted to a linked-list of linked-lists of strings.</jc>
380    *    List&lt;List&lt;String&gt;&gt; l3 = l.get(3, LinkedList.<jk>class</jk>, LinkedList.<jk>class</jk>, String.<jk>class</jk>);
381    *
382    *    <jc>// Value converted to a map of string keys/values.</jc>
383    *    Map&lt;String,String&gt; m1 = l.get(4, TreeMap.<jk>class</jk>, String.<jk>class</jk>, String.<jk>class</jk>);
384    *
385    *    <jc>// Value converted to a map containing string keys and values of lists containing beans.</jc>
386    *    Map&lt;String,List&lt;MyBean&gt;&gt; m2 = l.get(5, TreeMap.<jk>class</jk>, String.<jk>class</jk>, List.<jk>class</jk>, MyBean.<jk>class</jk>);
387    * </p>
388    *
389    * <p>
390    * <c>Collection</c> classes are assumed to be followed by zero or one objects indicating the element type.
391    *
392    * <p>
393    * <c>Map</c> classes are assumed to be followed by zero or two meta objects indicating the key and value types.
394    *
395    * <p>
396    * The array can be arbitrarily long to indicate arbitrarily complex data structures.
397    *
398    * <p>
399    * See {@link BeanSession#convertToType(Object, ClassMeta)} for the list of valid data conversions.
400    *
401    * @param index The index into this list.
402    * @param type The type of object to convert the entry to.
403    * @param args The type arguments of the type to convert the entry to.
404    * @param <T> The type of object to convert the entry to.
405    * @return The converted entry.
406    */
407   public <T> T get(int index, Type type, Type...args) {
408      return bs().convertToType(get(index), type, args);
409   }
410
411   /**
412    * Shortcut for calling <code>get(index, String.<jk>class</jk>)</code>.
413    *
414    * @param index The index.
415    * @return The converted value.
416    */
417   public String getString(int index) {
418      return get(index, String.class);
419   }
420
421   /**
422    * Shortcut for calling <code>get(index, Integer.<jk>class</jk>)</code>.
423    *
424    * @param index The index.
425    * @return The converted value.
426    * @throws InvalidDataConversionException If value cannot be converted.
427    */
428   public Integer getInt(int index) {
429      return get(index, Integer.class);
430   }
431
432   /**
433    * Shortcut for calling <code>get(index, Boolean.<jk>class</jk>)</code>.
434    *
435    * @param index The index.
436    * @return The converted value.
437    * @throws InvalidDataConversionException If value cannot be converted.
438    */
439   public Boolean getBoolean(int index) {
440      return get(index, Boolean.class);
441   }
442
443   /**
444    * Shortcut for calling <code>get(index, Long.<jk>class</jk>)</code>.
445    *
446    * @param index The index.
447    * @return The converted value.
448    * @throws InvalidDataConversionException If value cannot be converted.
449    */
450   public Long getLong(int index) {
451      return get(index, Long.class);
452   }
453
454   /**
455    * Shortcut for calling <code>get(index, Map.<jk>class</jk>)</code>.
456    *
457    * @param index The index.
458    * @return The converted value.
459    * @throws InvalidDataConversionException If value cannot be converted.
460    */
461   public Map<?,?> getMap(int index) {
462      return get(index, Map.class);
463   }
464
465   /**
466    * Same as {@link #getMap(int)} except converts the keys and values to the specified types.
467    *
468    * @param index The index.
469    * @param keyType The key type class.
470    * @param valType The value type class.
471    * @return The converted value.
472    * @throws InvalidDataConversionException If value cannot be converted.
473    */
474   public <K,V> Map<K,V> getMap(int index, Class<K> keyType, Class<V> valType) {
475      return bs().convertToType(get(index), Map.class, keyType, valType);
476   }
477
478   /**
479    * Shortcut for calling <code>get(index, List.<jk>class</jk>)</code>.
480    *
481    * @param index The index.
482    * @return The converted value.
483    * @throws InvalidDataConversionException If value cannot be converted.
484    */
485   public List<?> getList(int index) {
486      return get(index, List.class);
487   }
488
489   /**
490    * Same as {@link #getList(int)} except converts the elements to the specified types.
491    *
492    * @param index The index.
493    * @param elementType The element type class.
494    * @return The converted value.
495    * @throws InvalidDataConversionException If value cannot be converted.
496    */
497   public <E> List<E> getList(int index, Class<E> elementType) {
498      return bs().convertToType(get(index), List.class, elementType);
499   }
500
501   /**
502    * Shortcut for calling <code>get(index, ObjectMap.<jk>class</jk>)</code>.
503    *
504    * @param index The index.
505    * @return The converted value.
506    * @throws InvalidDataConversionException If value cannot be converted.
507    */
508   public ObjectMap getObjectMap(int index) {
509      return get(index, ObjectMap.class);
510   }
511
512   /**
513    * Shortcut for calling <code>get(index, ObjectList.<jk>class</jk>)</code>.
514    *
515    * @param index The index.
516    * @return The converted value.
517    * @throws InvalidDataConversionException If value cannot be converted.
518    */
519   public ObjectList getObjectList(int index) {
520      return get(index, ObjectList.class);
521   }
522
523   /**
524    * Same as {@link #get(int,Class) get(int,Class)}, but the key is a slash-delimited path used to traverse entries in
525    * this POJO.
526    *
527    * <p>
528    * For example, the following code is equivalent:
529    * </p>
530    * <p class='bcode w800'>
531    *    ObjectMap m = getObjectMap();
532    *
533    *    <jc>// Long way</jc>
534    *    <jk>long</jk> l = m.getObjectMap(<js>"foo"</js>).getObjectList(<js>"bar"</js>).getObjectMap(<js>"0"</js>).getLong(<js>"baz"</js>);
535    *
536    *    <jc>// Using this method</jc>
537    *    <jk>long</jk> l = m.getAt(<js>"foo/bar/0/baz"</js>, <jk>long</jk>.<jk>class</jk>);
538    * </p>
539    *
540    * <p>
541    * This method uses the {@link PojoRest} class to perform the lookup, so the map can contain any of the various
542    * class types that the {@link PojoRest} class supports (e.g. beans, collections, arrays).
543    *
544    * @param path The path to the entry.
545    * @param type The class type.
546    *
547    * @param <T> The class type.
548    * @return The value, or <jk>null</jk> if the entry doesn't exist.
549    */
550   public <T> T getAt(String path, Class<T> type) {
551      return getPojoRest().get(path, type);
552   }
553
554   /**
555    * Same as {@link #getAt(String,Class)}, but allows for conversion to complex maps and collections.
556    *
557    * @param path The path to the entry.
558    * @param type The class type.
559    * @param args The class parameter types.
560    *
561    * @param <T> The class type.
562    * @return The value, or <jk>null</jk> if the entry doesn't exist.
563    */
564   public <T> T getAt(String path, Type type, Type...args) {
565      return getPojoRest().get(path, type, args);
566   }
567
568   /**
569    * Same as {@link #set(int,Object) set(int,Object)}, but the key is a slash-delimited path used to traverse entries
570    * in this POJO.
571    *
572    * <p>
573    * For example, the following code is equivalent:
574    * </p>
575    * <p class='bcode w800'>
576    *    ObjectMap m = getObjectMap();
577    *
578    *    <jc>// Long way</jc>
579    *    m.getObjectMap(<js>"foo"</js>).getObjectList(<js>"bar"</js>).getObjectMap(<js>"0"</js>).put(<js>"baz"</js>, 123);
580    *
581    *    <jc>// Using this method</jc>
582    *    m.putAt(<js>"foo/bar/0/baz"</js>, 123);
583    * </p>
584    *
585    * <p>
586    * This method uses the {@link PojoRest} class to perform the lookup, so the map can contain any of the various
587    * class types that the {@link PojoRest} class supports (e.g. beans, collections, arrays).
588    *
589    * @param path The path to the entry.
590    * @param o The new value.
591    * @return The previous value, or <jk>null</jk> if the entry doesn't exist.
592    */
593   public Object putAt(String path, Object o) {
594      return getPojoRest().put(path, o);
595   }
596
597   /**
598    * Similar to {@link #putAt(String,Object) putAt(String,Object)}, but used to append to collections and arrays.
599    *
600    * <p>
601    * For example, the following code is equivalent:
602    * </p>
603    * <p class='bcode w800'>
604    *    ObjectMap m = getObjectMap();
605    *
606    *    <jc>// Long way</jc>
607    *    m.getObjectMap(<js>"foo"</js>).getObjectList(<js>"bar"</js>).append(123);
608    *
609    *    <jc>// Using this method</jc>
610    *    m.postAt(<js>"foo/bar"</js>, 123);
611    * </p>
612    *
613    * <p>
614    * This method uses the {@link PojoRest} class to perform the lookup, so the map can contain any of the various
615    * class types that the {@link PojoRest} class supports (e.g. beans, collections, arrays).
616    *
617    * @param path The path to the entry.
618    * @param o The new value.
619    * @return The previous value, or <jk>null</jk> if the entry doesn't exist.
620    */
621   public Object postAt(String path, Object o) {
622      return getPojoRest().post(path, o);
623   }
624
625   /**
626    * Similar to {@link #remove(int) remove(int)},but the key is a slash-delimited path used to traverse entries in
627    * this POJO.
628    *
629    * <p>
630    * For example, the following code is equivalent:
631    * </p>
632    * <p class='bcode w800'>
633    *    ObjectMap m = getObjectMap();
634    *
635    *    <jc>// Long way</jc>
636    *    m.getObjectMap(<js>"foo"</js>).getObjectList(<js>"bar"</js>).getObjectMap(1).remove(<js>"baz"</js>);
637    *
638    *    <jc>// Using this method</jc>
639    *    m.deleteAt(<js>"foo/bar/0/baz"</js>);
640    * </p>
641    *
642    * <p>
643    * This method uses the {@link PojoRest} class to perform the lookup, so the map can contain any of the various
644    * class types that the {@link PojoRest} class supports (e.g. beans, collections, arrays).
645    *
646    * @param path The path to the entry.
647    * @return The previous value, or <jk>null</jk> if the entry doesn't exist.
648    */
649   public Object deleteAt(String path) {
650      return getPojoRest().delete(path);
651   }
652
653   /**
654    * Creates an {@link Iterable} with elements of the specified child type.
655    *
656    * <p>
657    * Attempts to convert the child objects to the correct type if they aren't already the correct type.
658    *
659    * <p>
660    * The <c>next()</c> method on the returned iterator may throw a {@link InvalidDataConversionException} if
661    * the next element cannot be converted to the specified type.
662    *
663    * <p>
664    * See {@link BeanSession#convertToType(Object, ClassMeta)} for a description of valid conversions.
665    *
666    * <h5 class='section'>Example:</h5>
667    * <p class='bcode w800'>
668    *    <jc>// Iterate over a list of ObjectMaps.</jc>
669    *    ObjectList l = <jk>new</jk> ObjectList(<js>"[{foo:'bar'},{baz:123}]"</js>);
670    *    for (ObjectMap m : l.elements(ObjectMap.<jk>class</jk>)) {
671    *       <jc>// Do something with m.</jc>
672    *    }
673    *
674    *    <jc>// Iterate over a list of ints.</jc>
675    *    ObjectList l = <jk>new</jk> ObjectList(<js>"[1,2,3]"</js>);
676    *    for (Integer i : l.elements(Integer.<jk>class</jk>)) {
677    *       <jc>// Do something with i.</jc>
678    *    }
679    *
680    *    <jc>// Iterate over a list of beans.</jc>
681    *    <jc>// Automatically converts to beans.</jc>
682    *    ObjectList l = <jk>new</jk> ObjectList(<js>"[{name:'John Smith',age:45}]"</js>);
683    *    for (Person p : l.elements(Person.<jk>class</jk>)) {
684    *       <jc>// Do something with p.</jc>
685    *    }
686    * </p>
687    *
688    * @param <E> The child object type.
689    * @param childType The child object type.
690    * @return A new <c>Iterable</c> object over this list.
691    */
692   public <E> Iterable<E> elements(final Class<E> childType) {
693      final Iterator<?> i = iterator();
694      return new Iterable<E>() {
695
696         @Override /* Iterable */
697         public Iterator<E> iterator() {
698            return new Iterator<E>() {
699
700               @Override /* Iterator */
701               public boolean hasNext() {
702                  return i.hasNext();
703               }
704
705               @Override /* Iterator */
706               public E next() {
707                  return bs().convertToType(i.next(), childType);
708               }
709
710               @Override /* Iterator */
711               public void remove() {
712                  i.remove();
713               }
714
715            };
716         }
717      };
718   }
719
720   /**
721    * Returns the {@link ClassMeta} of the class of the object at the specified index.
722    *
723    * @param index An index into this list, zero-based.
724    * @return The data type of the object at the specified index, or <jk>null</jk> if the value is null.
725    */
726   public ClassMeta<?> getClassMeta(int index) {
727      return bs().getClassMetaForObject(get(index));
728   }
729
730   private PojoRest getPojoRest() {
731      if (pojoRest == null)
732         pojoRest = new PojoRest(this);
733      return pojoRest;
734   }
735
736   /**
737    * Serialize this array to a string using the specified serializer.
738    *
739    * @param serializer The serializer to use to convert this object to a string.
740    * @return This object as a serialized string.
741    * @throws SerializeException If a problem occurred trying to convert the output.
742    */
743   public String toString(WriterSerializer serializer) throws SerializeException {
744      return serializer.serialize(this);
745   }
746
747   /**
748    * Returns <jk>true</jk> if this list is unmodifiable.
749    *
750    * @return <jk>true</jk> if this list is unmodifiable.
751    */
752   public boolean isUnmodifiable() {
753      return false;
754   }
755
756   /**
757    * Returns a modifiable copy of this list if it's unmodifiable.
758    *
759    * @return A modifiable copy of this list if it's unmodifiable, or this list if it is already modifiable.
760    */
761   public ObjectList modifiable() {
762      if (isUnmodifiable())
763         return new ObjectList(this);
764      return this;
765   }
766
767   /**
768    * Returns an unmodifiable copy of this list if it's modifiable.
769    *
770    * @return An unmodifiable copy of this list if it's modifiable, or this list if it is already unmodifiable.
771    */
772   public ObjectList unmodifiable() {
773      if (this instanceof UnmodifiableObjectList)
774         return this;
775      return new UnmodifiableObjectList(this);
776   }
777
778   /**
779    * Serialize this array to JSON using the {@link JsonSerializer#DEFAULT} serializer.
780    */
781   @Override /* Object */
782   public String toString() {
783      try {
784         return this.toString(SimpleJsonSerializer.DEFAULT);
785      } catch (SerializeException e) {
786         return e.getLocalizedMessage();
787      }
788   }
789
790   /**
791    * Convenience method for serializing this ObjectList to the specified Writer using the JsonSerializer.DEFAULT
792    * serializer.
793    *
794    * @param w The writer to send the serialized contents of this object.
795    * @throws IOException If a problem occurred trying to write to the writer.
796    * @throws SerializeException If a problem occurred trying to convert the output.
797    */
798   public void serializeTo(Writer w) throws IOException, SerializeException {
799      JsonSerializer.DEFAULT.serialize(this);
800   }
801
802   /**
803    * Converts this object into the specified class type.
804    *
805    * <p>
806    * TODO - The current implementation is very inefficient.
807    *
808    * @param cm The class type to convert this object to.
809    * @return A converted object.
810    */
811   public Object cast(ClassMeta<?> cm) {
812      try {
813         return JsonParser.DEFAULT.parse(SimpleJsonSerializer.DEFAULT.serialize(this), cm);
814      } catch (ParseException | SerializeException e) {
815         throw new RuntimeException(e);
816      }
817   }
818
819   private static final class UnmodifiableObjectList extends ObjectList {
820      private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
821
822      UnmodifiableObjectList(ObjectList contents) {
823         super();
824         if (contents != null) {
825            for (Object e : this) {
826               super.add(e);
827            }
828         }
829      }
830
831      @Override /* List */
832      public void add(int location, Object object) {
833         throw new UnsupportedOperationException("ObjectList is read-only.");
834      }
835
836      @Override /* List */
837      public Object remove(int location) {
838         throw new UnsupportedOperationException("ObjectList is read-only.");
839      }
840
841      @Override /* List */
842      public Object set(int location, Object object) {
843         throw new UnsupportedOperationException("ObjectList is read-only.");
844      }
845
846      @Override
847      public final boolean isUnmodifiable() {
848         return true;
849      }
850   }
851
852   BeanSession bs() {
853      if (session == null)
854         session = BeanContext.DEFAULT.createBeanSession();
855      return session;
856   }
857}