java.util.logging

## Class Formatter

- java.lang.Object
- - java.util.logging.Formatter

- Direct Known Subclasses:
    SimpleFormatter, XMLFormatter

      public abstract class Formatter
      extends Object

  A Formatter provides support for formatting LogRecords.

  Typically each logging Handler will have a Formatter associated with it. The Formatter takes a LogRecord and converts it to a string.

  Some formatters (such as the XMLFormatter) need to wrap head and tail strings around a set of formatted records. The getHeader and getTail methods can be used to obtain these strings.

  Since:
    1.4

- - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Modifier | Constructor and Description
    --- | ---
    `protected` | `Formatter()` Construct a new formatter.

  - ### Method Summary

    Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `abstract String` | `format(LogRecord record)` Format the given log record and return the formatted string.
    `String` | `formatMessage(LogRecord record)` Localize and format the message string from a log record.
    `String` | `getHead(Handler h)` Return the header string for a set of formatted records.
    `String` | `getTail(Handler h)` Return the tail string for a set of formatted records.

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

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

- - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### Formatter

          protected Formatter()

      Construct a new formatter.

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### format

          public abstract String format(LogRecord record)

      Format the given log record and return the formatted string.

      The resulting formatted String will normally include a localized and formated version of the LogRecord's message field. It is recommended to use the `formatMessage(java.util.logging.LogRecord)` convenience method to localize and format the message field.

      Parameters:
        `record` - the log record to be formatted.
      Returns:
        the formatted log record

    - #### getHead

          public String getHead(Handler h)

      Return the header string for a set of formatted records.

      This base class returns an empty string, but this may be overriden by subclasses.

      Parameters:
        `h` - The target handler (can be null)
      Returns:
        header string

    - #### getTail

          public String getTail(Handler h)

      Return the tail string for a set of formatted records.

      This base class returns an empty string, but this may be overriden by subclasses.

      Parameters:
        `h` - The target handler (can be null)
      Returns:
        tail string

    - #### formatMessage

          public String formatMessage(LogRecord record)

      Localize and format the message string from a log record. This method is provided as a convenience for Formatter subclasses to use when they are performing formatting.

      The message string is first localized to a format string using the record's ResourceBundle. (If there is no ResourceBundle, or if the message key is not found, then the key is used as the format string.) The format String uses java.text style formatting.

      - If there are no parameters, no formatter is used.
      - Otherwise, if the string contains "{0" then java.text.MessageFormat is used to format the string.
      - Otherwise no formatting is performed.

      Parameters:
        `record` - the log record containing the raw message
      Returns:
        a localized and formatted message

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