# Class LinkRef

java.lang.Object
javax.naming.Reference
javax.naming.LinkRef

All Implemented Interfaces:
  `Serializable, Cloneable`

public class LinkRef extends Reference
This class represents a Reference whose contents is a name, called the link name, that is bound to an atomic name in a context.

The name is a URL, or a name to be resolved relative to the initial context, or if the first character of the name is ".", the name is relative to the context in which the link is bound.

Normal resolution of names in context operations always follow links. Resolution of the link name itself may cause resolution to pass through other links. This gives rise to the possibility of a cycle of links whose resolution could not terminate normally. As a simple means to avoid such non-terminating resolutions, service providers may define limits on the number of links that may be involved in any single operation invoked by the caller.

A LinkRef contains a single StringRefAddr, whose type is "LinkAddress", and whose contents is the link name. The class name field of the Reference is that of this (LinkRef) class.

LinkRef is bound to a name using the normal Context.bind()/rebind(), and DirContext.bind()/rebind(). Context.lookupLink() is used to retrieve the link itself if the terminal atomic name is bound to a link.

Many naming systems support a native notion of link that may be used within the naming system itself. JNDI does not specify whether there is any relationship between such native links and JNDI links.

A LinkRef instance is not synchronized against concurrent access by multiple threads. Threads that need to access a LinkRef instance concurrently should synchronize amongst themselves and provide the necessary locking.

Since:
  1.3
See Also:
  - `LinkException`
  - `LinkLoopException`
  - `MalformedLinkException`
  - `Context.lookupLink(Name)`
  - Serialized Form

- ## Field Summary

  ### Fields declared in class Reference

  `addrs, classFactory, classFactoryLocation, className`

- ## Constructor Summary

  Constructors
  Constructor
  Description
  `LinkRef(String linkName)`
  Constructs a LinkRef for a string name.
  `LinkRef(Name linkName)`
  Constructs a LinkRef for a name.

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `String`
  `getLinkName()`
  Retrieves the name of this link.

  ### Methods declared in class Reference

  `add, add, clear, clone, equals, get, get, getAll, getClassName, getFactoryClassLocation, getFactoryClassName, hashCode, remove, size, toString`

  ### Methods declared in class Object

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

- ## Constructor Details

  - ### LinkRef

    public LinkRef(Name linkName)
    Constructs a LinkRef for a name.
    Parameters:
      `linkName` - The non-null name for which to create this link.

  - ### LinkRef

    public LinkRef(String linkName)
    Constructs a LinkRef for a string name.
    Parameters:
      `linkName` - The non-null name for which to create this link.

- ## Method Details

  - ### getLinkName

    public String getLinkName() throws NamingException
    Retrieves the name of this link.
    Returns:
      The non-null name of this link.
    Throws:
      `MalformedLinkException` - If a link name could not be extracted
      `NamingException` - If a naming exception was encountered.