/*
    * Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more
    * contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file distributed with
    * this work for additional information regarding copyright ownership.
    * The ASF licenses this file to You under the Apache License, Version 2.0
    * (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with
    * the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
    *
    *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
   *
   * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
   * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
   * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
   * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
   * limitations under the License.
   */
  package org.apache.commons.configuration2;
  
  import java.math.BigDecimal;
  import java.math.BigInteger;
  import java.time.Duration;
  import java.util.Collection;
  import java.util.Iterator;
  import java.util.List;
  import java.util.NoSuchElementException;
  import java.util.Properties;
  
  import org.apache.commons.configuration2.convert.PropertyConverter;
  import org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException;
  
  /**
   * <p>
   * The main interface for accessing configuration data in a read-only fashion.
   * </p>
   * <p>
   * The major part of the methods defined in this interface deals with accessing properties of various data types. There
   * is a generic {@code getProperty()} method, which returns the value of the queried property in its raw data type.
   * Other getter methods try to convert this raw data type into a specific data type. If this fails, a
   * {@code ConversionException} will be thrown.
   * </p>
   * <p>
   * For most of the property getter methods an overloaded version exists that allows to specify a default value, which
   * will be returned if the queried property cannot be found in the configuration. The behavior of the methods that do
   * not take a default value in case of a missing property is not defined by this interface and depends on a concrete
   * implementation. E.g. the {@link AbstractConfiguration} class, which is the base class of most configuration
   * implementations provided by this package, per default returns <b>null</b> if a property is not found, but provides
   * the {@link AbstractConfiguration#setThrowExceptionOnMissing(boolean) setThrowExceptionOnMissing()} method, with which
   * it can be configured to throw a {@code NoSuchElementException} exception in that case. (Note that getter methods for
   * primitive types in {@code AbstractConfiguration} always throw an exception for missing properties because there is no
   * way of overloading the return value.)
   * </p>
   *
   * @since 2.0
   */
  public interface ImmutableConfiguration {
      /**
       * Checks if the configuration contains the specified key.
       *
       * @param key the key whose presence in this configuration is to be tested
       *
       * @return {@code true} if the configuration contains a value for this key, {@code false} otherwise
       */
      boolean containsKey(String key);
  
      /**
       * Gets an object of the specified type associated with the given configuration key. If the key doesn't map to an
       * existing object, the method returns null unless {@link AbstractConfiguration#isThrowExceptionOnMissing()} is set to
       * {@code true}.
       *
       * @param <T> the target type of the value
       * @param cls the target class of the value
       * @param key the key of the value
       * @return the value of the requested type for the key
       * @throws java.util.NoSuchElementException if the key doesn't map to an existing object and
       *         {@code throwExceptionOnMissing=true}
       * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException if the value is not compatible with the requested
       *         type
       * @since 2.0
       */
      <T> T get(Class<T> cls, String key);
  
      /**
       * Gets an object of the specified type associated with the given configuration key using a default value. If the key
       * doesn't map to an existing object, the default value is returned.
       *
       * @param <T> the target type of the value
       * @param cls the target class of the value
       * @param key the key of the value
       * @param defaultValue the default value
       *
       * @return the value of the requested type for the key
       *
       * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException if the value is not compatible with the requested
       *         type
       *
       * @since 2.0
       */
      <T> T get(Class<T> cls, String key, T defaultValue);
  
     /**
      * Gets an array of typed objects associated with the given configuration key. If the key doesn't map to an existing
      * object, an empty list is returned.
      *
      * @param cls the type expected for the elements of the array
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @return The associated array if the key is found, and the value compatible with the type specified.
      *
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not
      *         compatible with a list of the specified class.
      *
      * @since 2.0
      */
     Object getArray(Class<?> cls, String key);
 
     /**
      * Gets an array of typed objects associated with the given configuration key. If the key doesn't map to an existing
      * object, the default value is returned.
      *
      * @param cls the type expected for the elements of the array
      * @param key the configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue the default value
      * @return The associated array if the key is found, and the value compatible with the type specified.
      *
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not
      *         compatible with an array of the specified class.
      * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the default value is not an array of the specified type
      *
      * @since 2.0
      * @deprecated This method should not be used any more because its signature does not allow type-safe invocations; use
      *             {@link #get(Class, String, Object)} instead which offers the same functionality; for instance, to query
      *             for an array of ints use {@code int[] result = config.get(int[].class, "myArrayKey", someDefault);}.
      */
     @Deprecated
     Object getArray(Class<?> cls, String key, Object defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets a {@link BigDecimal} associated with the given configuration key.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @return The associated BigDecimal if key is found and has valid format
      */
     BigDecimal getBigDecimal(String key);
 
     /**
      * Gets a {@link BigDecimal} associated with the given configuration key. If the key doesn't map to an existing object,
      * the default value is returned.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      *
      * @return The associated BigDecimal if key is found and has valid format, default value otherwise.
      */
     BigDecimal getBigDecimal(String key, BigDecimal defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets a {@link BigInteger} associated with the given configuration key.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      *
      * @return The associated BigInteger if key is found and has valid format
      */
     BigInteger getBigInteger(String key);
 
     /**
      * Gets a {@link BigInteger} associated with the given configuration key. If the key doesn't map to an existing object,
      * the default value is returned.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      *
      * @return The associated BigInteger if key is found and has valid format, default value otherwise.
      */
     BigInteger getBigInteger(String key, BigInteger defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets a boolean associated with the given configuration key.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @return The associated boolean.
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Boolean.
      */
     boolean getBoolean(String key);
 
     /**
      * Gets a boolean associated with the given configuration key. If the key doesn't map to an existing object, the default
      * value is returned.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      * @return The associated boolean.
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Boolean.
      */
     boolean getBoolean(String key, boolean defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets a {@link Boolean} associated with the given configuration key.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      * @return The associated boolean if key is found and has valid format, default value otherwise.
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Boolean.
      */
     Boolean getBoolean(String key, Boolean defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets a byte associated with the given configuration key.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @return The associated byte.
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Byte.
      */
     byte getByte(String key);
 
     /**
      * Gets a byte associated with the given configuration key. If the key doesn't map to an existing object, the default
      * value is returned.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      * @return The associated byte.
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Byte.
      */
     byte getByte(String key, byte defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets a {@link Byte} associated with the given configuration key.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      * @return The associated byte if key is found and has valid format, default value otherwise.
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Byte.
      */
     Byte getByte(String key, Byte defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets a collection of typed objects associated with the given configuration key. This method works like
      * {@link #getCollection(Class, String, Collection, Collection)} passing in <b>null</b> as default value.
      *
      * @param <T> the element type of the result list
      * @param cls the element class of the result list
      * @param key the configuration key
      * @param target the target collection (may be <b>null</b>)
      * @return the collection to which data was added
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException if the conversion is not possible
      * @since 2.0
      */
     <T> Collection<T> getCollection(Class<T> cls, String key, Collection<T> target);
 
     /**
      * Gets a collection of typed objects associated with the given configuration key using the values in the specified
      * default collection if the key does not map to an existing object. This method is similar to {@code getList()},
      * however, it allows specifying a target collection. Results are added to this collection. This is useful if the data
      * retrieved should be added to a specific kind of collection, e.g. a set to remove duplicates. The return value is as
      * follows:
      * <ul>
      * <li>If the key does not map to an existing object and the default value is <b>null</b>, the method returns
      * <b>null</b>.</li>
      * <li>If the target collection is not <b>null</b> and data has been added (either from the resolved property value or
      * from the default collection), the target collection is returned.</li>
      * <li>If the target collection is <b>null</b> and data has been added (either from the resolved property value or from
      * the default collection), return value is the target collection created by this method.</li>
      * </ul>
      *
      * @param <T> the element type of the result list
      * @param cls the element class of the result list
      * @param key the configuration key
      * @param target the target collection (may be <b>null</b>)
      * @param defaultValue the default value (may be <b>null</b>)
      * @return the collection to which data was added
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException if the conversion is not possible
      * @since 2.0
      */
     <T> Collection<T> getCollection(Class<T> cls, String key, Collection<T> target, Collection<T> defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets a double associated with the given configuration key.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @return The associated double.
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Double.
      */
     double getDouble(String key);
 
     /**
      * Gets a double associated with the given configuration key. If the key doesn't map to an existing object, the default
      * value is returned.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      * @return The associated double.
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Double.
      */
     double getDouble(String key, double defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets a {@link Double} associated with the given configuration key.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      * @return The associated double if key is found and has valid format, default value otherwise.
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Double.
      */
     Double getDouble(String key, Double defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets a {@link Duration} associated with the given configuration key.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @return The associated Duration if key is found and has valid format, default value otherwise.
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Duration.
      * @since 2.8.0
      */
     default Duration getDuration(final String key) {
         final String string = getString(key);
         if (string == null) {
             throw new NoSuchElementException(key);
         }
         return PropertyConverter.toDuration(string);
     }
 
     /**
      * Gets a {@link Duration} associated with the given configuration key.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      * @return The associated Duration if key is found and has valid format, default value otherwise.
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Duration.
      * @since 2.8.0
      */
     default Duration getDuration(final String key, final Duration defaultValue) {
         final Object value = getProperty(key);
         return value == null ? defaultValue : PropertyConverter.toDuration(value);
     }
 
     /**
      * Gets the value of a string property that is stored in encoded form in this configuration using a default
      * {@code ConfigurationDecoder}. This method works like the method with the same name, but it uses a default
      * {@code ConfigurationDecoder} associated with this configuration. It depends on a specific implementation how this
      * default decoder is obtained.
      *
      * @param key the configuration key
      * @return the plain string value of the specified encoded property
      */
     String getEncodedString(String key);
 
     /**
      * Gets the value of a string property that is stored in encoded form in this configuration. This method obtains the
      * value of the string property identified by the given key. This value is then passed to the provided
      * {@code ConfigurationDecoder}. The value returned by the {@code ConfigurationDecoder} is passed to the caller. If the
      * key is not associated with a value, the decoder is not invoked; depending on this configuration's settings either
      * <b>null</b> is returned or an exception is thrown.
      *
      * @param key the configuration key
      * @param decoder the {@code ConfigurationDecoder} (must not be <b>null</b>)
      * @return the plain string value of the specified encoded property
      * @throws IllegalArgumentException if a <b>null</b> decoder is passed
      */
     String getEncodedString(String key, ConfigurationDecoder decoder);
 
     /**
      * Gets an enum associated with the given configuration key.
      *
      * @param <T> The enum type whose constant is to be returned.
      * @param enumType the {@code Class} object of the enum type from which to return a constant
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @return The associated enum.
      *
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         String.
      * @since 2.8.0
      */
     default <T extends Enum<T>> T getEnum(final String key, final Class<T> enumType) {
         try {
             return Enum.valueOf(enumType, getString(key));
         } catch (final IllegalArgumentException e) {
             throw new ConversionException(e);
         }
     }
 
     /**
      * Gets the enum associated with the given configuration key. If the key doesn't map to an existing object, the default
      * value is returned.
      *
      * @param <T> The enum type whose constant is to be returned.
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param enumType the {@code Class} object of the enum type from which to return a constant
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      * @return The associated enum if key is found and has valid format, default value otherwise.
      *
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Enum.
      * @since 2.8.0
      */
     default <T extends Enum<T>> T getEnum(final String key, final Class<T> enumType, final T defaultValue) {
         final String strValue = getString(key, null);
         if (strValue == null) {
             return defaultValue;
         }
         try {
             return Enum.valueOf(enumType, strValue);
         } catch (final IllegalArgumentException e) {
             throw new ConversionException(e);
         }
     }
 
     /**
      * Gets a float associated with the given configuration key.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @return The associated float.
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Float.
      */
     float getFloat(String key);
 
     /**
      * Gets a float associated with the given configuration key. If the key doesn't map to an existing object, the default
      * value is returned.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      * @return The associated float.
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Float.
      */
     float getFloat(String key, float defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets a {@link Float} associated with the given configuration key. If the key doesn't map to an existing object, the
      * default value is returned.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      * @return The associated float if key is found and has valid format, default value otherwise.
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Float.
      */
     Float getFloat(String key, Float defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets a int associated with the given configuration key.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @return The associated int.
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Integer.
      */
     int getInt(String key);
 
     /**
      * Gets a int associated with the given configuration key. If the key doesn't map to an existing object, the default
      * value is returned.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      * @return The associated int.
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Integer.
      */
     int getInt(String key, int defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets an {@link Integer} associated with the given configuration key. If the key doesn't map to an existing object,
      * the default value is returned.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      * @return The associated int if key is found and has valid format, default value otherwise.
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Integer.
      */
     Integer getInteger(String key, Integer defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets the list of the keys contained in the configuration. The returned iterator can be used to obtain all defined
      * keys. It does not allow removing elements from this configuration via its {@code remove()} method. Note that the keys
      * of this configuration are returned in a form, so that they can be directly evaluated; escaping of special characters
      * (if necessary) has already been performed.
      *
      * @return An Iterator.
      */
     Iterator<String> getKeys();
 
     /**
      * Gets the list of the keys contained in the configuration that match the specified prefix. For instance, if the
      * configuration contains the following keys:<br>
      * {@code db.user, db.pwd, db.url, window.xpos, window.ypos},<br>
      * an invocation of {@code getKeys("db");}<br>
      * will return the keys below:<br>
      * {@code db.user, db.pwd, db.url}.<br>
      * Note that the prefix itself is included in the result set if there is a matching key. The exact behavior - how the
      * prefix is actually interpreted - depends on a concrete implementation.
      *
      * @param prefix The prefix to test against.
      * @return An Iterator of keys that match the prefix.
      * @see #getKeys()
      */
     Iterator<String> getKeys(String prefix);
 
     /**
      * Gets the list of the keys contained in the configuration that match the specified prefix. For instance, if the
      * configuration contains the following keys:<br>
      * {@code db@user, db@pwd, db@url, window.xpos, window.ypos},<br>
      * an invocation of {@code getKeys("db","@");}<br>
      * will return the keys below:<br>
      * {@code db@user, db@pwd, db@url}.<br>
      * Note that the prefix itself is included in the result set if there is a matching key. The exact behavior - how the
      * prefix is actually interpreted - depends on a concrete implementation.
      *
      * @param prefix The prefix to test against.
      * @param delimiter The prefix delimiter.
      * @return An Iterator of keys that match the prefix.
      * @see #getKeys()
      * @since 2.10.0
      */
     default Iterator<String> getKeys(final String prefix, final String delimiter) {
         return null;
     }
 
     /**
      * Gets a list of typed objects associated with the given configuration key returning a null if the key doesn't map to
      * an existing object.
      *
      * @param <T> the type expected for the elements of the list
      * @param cls the class expected for the elements of the list
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @return The associated list if the key is found.
      *
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not
      *         compatible with a list of the specified class.
      *
      * @since 2.0
      */
     <T> List<T> getList(Class<T> cls, String key);
 
     /**
      * Gets a list of typed objects associated with the given configuration key returning the specified default value if the
      * key doesn't map to an existing object. This method recursively retrieves all values stored for the passed in key,
      * i.e. if one of these values is again a complex object like an array or a collection (which may be the case for some
      * concrete subclasses), all values are extracted and added to the resulting list - performing a type conversion if
      * necessary.
      *
      * @param <T> the type expected for the elements of the list
      * @param cls the class expected for the elements of the list
      * @param key the configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue the default value.
      * @return The associated List.
      *
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not
      *         compatible with a list of the specified class.
      *
      * @since 2.0
      */
     <T> List<T> getList(Class<T> cls, String key, List<T> defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets a List of the values associated with the given configuration key. This method is different from the generic
      * {@code getList()} method in that it does not recursively obtain all values stored for the specified property key.
      * Rather, only the first level of the hierarchy is processed. So the resulting list may contain complex objects like
      * arrays or collections - depending on the storage structure used by a concrete subclass. If the key doesn't map to an
      * existing object, an empty List is returned.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @return The associated List.
      *
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         List.
      */
     List<Object> getList(String key);
 
     /**
      * Gets a List of strings associated with the given configuration key. If the key doesn't map to an existing object, the
      * default value is returned.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      * @return The associated List of strings.
      *
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         List.
      * @see #getList(Class, String, List)
      */
     List<Object> getList(String key, List<?> defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets a long associated with the given configuration key.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @return The associated long.
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Long.
      */
     long getLong(String key);
 
     /**
      * Gets a long associated with the given configuration key. If the key doesn't map to an existing object, the default
      * value is returned.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      * @return The associated long.
      *
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Long.
      */
     long getLong(String key, long defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets a {@link Long} associated with the given configuration key. If the key doesn't map to an existing object, the
      * default value is returned.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      * @return The associated long if key is found and has valid format, default value otherwise.
      *
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Long.
      */
     Long getLong(String key, Long defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets a list of properties associated with the given configuration key. This method expects the given key to have an
      * arbitrary number of String values, each of which is of the form {@code key=value}. These strings are split at the
      * equals sign, and the key parts will become keys of the returned {@code Properties} object, the value parts become
      * values.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @return The associated properties if key is found.
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         String/List.
      * @throws IllegalArgumentException if one of the tokens is malformed (does not contain an equals sign).
      */
     Properties getProperties(String key);
 
     /**
      * Gets a property from the configuration. This is the most basic get method for retrieving values of properties. In a
      * typical implementation of the {@code Configuration} interface the other get methods (that return specific data types)
      * will internally make use of this method. On this level variable substitution is not yet performed. The returned
      * object is an internal representation of the property value for the passed in key. It is owned by the
      * {@code Configuration} object. So a caller should not modify this object. It cannot be guaranteed that this object
      * will stay constant over time (i.e. further update operations on the configuration may change its internal state).
      *
      * @param key property to retrieve
      * @return the value to which this configuration maps the specified key, or null if the configuration contains no
      *         mapping for this key.
      */
     Object getProperty(String key);
 
     /**
      * Gets a short associated with the given configuration key.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @return The associated short.
      *
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Short.
      */
     short getShort(String key);
 
     /**
      * Gets a short associated with the given configuration key.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      * @return The associated short.
      *
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Short.
      */
     short getShort(String key, short defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets a {@link Short} associated with the given configuration key. If the key doesn't map to an existing object, the
      * default value is returned.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      * @return The associated short if key is found and has valid format, default value otherwise.
      *
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         Short.
      */
     Short getShort(String key, Short defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets a string associated with the given configuration key.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @return The associated string.
      *
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         String.
      */
     String getString(String key);
 
     /**
      * Gets a string associated with the given configuration key. If the key doesn't map to an existing object, the default
      * value is returned.
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @param defaultValue The default value.
      * @return The associated string if key is found and has valid format, default value otherwise.
      *
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         String.
      */
     String getString(String key, String defaultValue);
 
     /**
      * Gets an array of strings associated with the given configuration key. If the key doesn't map to an existing object an
      * empty array is returned
      *
      * @param key The configuration key.
      * @return The associated string array if key is found.
      *
      * @throws org.apache.commons.configuration2.ex.ConversionException is thrown if the key maps to an object that is not a
      *         String/List of Strings.
      */
     String[] getStringArray(String key);
 
     /**
      * Return a decorator immutable Configuration containing every key from the current Configuration that starts with the
      * specified prefix. The prefix is removed from the keys in the subset. For example, if the configuration contains the
      * following properties:
      *
      * <pre>
      *    prefix.number = 1
      *    prefix.string = Apache
      *    prefixed.foo = bar
      *    prefix = Jakarta
      * </pre>
      *
      * the immutable Configuration returned by {@code subset("prefix")} will contain the properties:
      *
      * <pre>
      *    number = 1
      *    string = Apache
      *    = Jakarta
      * </pre>
      *
      * (The key for the value "Jakarta" is an empty string)
      *
      * @param prefix The prefix used to select the properties.
      * @return a subset immutable configuration
      */
     ImmutableConfiguration immutableSubset(String prefix);
 
     /**
      * Checks if the configuration is empty.
      *
      * @return {@code true} if the configuration contains no property, {@code false} otherwise.
      */
     boolean isEmpty();
 
     /**
      * Returns the number of keys stored in this configuration. Note that a concrete implementation is not guaranteed to be
      * efficient; for some implementations it may be expensive to determine the size. Especially, if you just want to check
      * whether a configuration is empty, it is preferable to use the {@link #isEmpty()} method.
      *
      * @return the number of keys stored in this configuration
      */
     int size();
 
 }