WatchEvent (Java SE 26 & JDK 26)
Description: declaration: module: java.base, package: java.nio.file, interface: WatchEvent
Keywords: java.nio.file.WatchEvent interface

# Interface WatchEvent<T>

Type Parameters:
  `T` - The type of the context object associated with the event

public interface WatchEvent<T>
An event or a repeated event for an object that is registered with a `WatchService`.

An event is classified by its `kind` and has a `count` to indicate the number of times that the event has been observed. This allows for efficient representation of repeated events. The `context` method returns any context associated with the event. In the case of a repeated event then the context is the same for all events.

Watch events are immutable and safe for use by multiple concurrent threads.

Since:
  1.7

- ## Nested Class Summary

  Nested Classes
  Modifier and Type
  Interface
  Description
  `static interface`
  `WatchEvent.Kind<T>`
  An event kind, for the purposes of identification.
  `static interface`
  `WatchEvent.Modifier`
  An event modifier that qualifies how a `Watchable` is registered with a `WatchService`.

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `T`
  `context()`
  Returns the context for the event.
  `int`
  `count()`
  Returns the event count.
  `WatchEvent.Kind<T>`
  `kind()`
  Returns the event kind.

- ## Method Details

  - ### kind

    WatchEvent.Kind<T> kind()
    Returns the event kind.
    Returns:
      the event kind

  - ### count

    int count()
    Returns the event count. If the event count is greater than `1` then this is a repeated event.
    Returns:
      the event count

  - ### context

    T context()
    Returns the context for the event.

    In the case of `ENTRY_CREATE`, `ENTRY_DELETE`, and `ENTRY_MODIFY` events the context is a `Path` that is the `relative` path between the directory registered with the watch service, and the entry that is created, deleted, or modified.

    Returns:
      the event context; may be `null`