DocumentEvent (Java SE 26 & JDK 26)
Description: declaration: module: java.desktop, package: javax.swing.event, interface: DocumentEvent
Keywords: javax.swing.event.DocumentEvent interface

# Interface DocumentEvent

All Known Implementing Classes:
  `AbstractDocument.DefaultDocumentEvent`

public interface DocumentEvent
Interface for document change notifications. This provides detailed information to Document observers about how the Document changed. It provides high level information such as type of change and where it occurred, as well as the more detailed structural changes (What Elements were inserted and removed).

See Also:
  - `Document`
  - `DocumentListener`

- ## Nested Class Summary

  Nested Classes
  Modifier and Type
  Interface
  Description
  `static interface`
  `DocumentEvent.ElementChange`
  Describes changes made to a specific element.
  `static final class`
  `DocumentEvent.EventType`
  Enumeration for document event types

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `DocumentEvent.ElementChange`
  `getChange(Element elem)`
  Gets the change information for the given element.
  `Document`
  `getDocument()`
  Gets the document that sourced the change event.
  `int`
  `getLength()`
  Returns the length of the change.
  `int`
  `getOffset()`
  Returns the offset within the document of the start of the change.
  `DocumentEvent.EventType`
  `getType()`
  Gets the type of event.

- ## Method Details

  - ### getOffset

    int getOffset()
    Returns the offset within the document of the start of the change.
    Returns:
      the offset >= 0

  - ### getLength

    int getLength()
    Returns the length of the change.
    Returns:
      the length >= 0

  - ### getDocument

    Document getDocument()
    Gets the document that sourced the change event.
    Returns:
      the document

  - ### getType

    DocumentEvent.EventType getType()
    Gets the type of event.
    Returns:
      the type

  - ### getChange

    DocumentEvent.ElementChange getChange(Element elem)
    Gets the change information for the given element. The change information describes what elements were added and removed and the location. If there were no changes, null is returned.

    This method is for observers to discover the structural changes that were made. This means that only elements that existed prior to the mutation (and still exist after the mutation) need to have ElementChange records. The changes made available need not be recursive.

    For example, if an element is removed from its parent, this method should report that the parent changed and provide an ElementChange implementation that describes the change to the parent. If the child element removed had children, these elements do not need to be reported as removed.

    If a child element is inserted into a parent element, the parent element should report a change. If the child element also had elements inserted into it (grandchildren to the parent) these elements need not report change.

    Parameters:
      `elem` - the element
    Returns:
      the change information, or null if the element was not modified