This interface represents a notation declared in the DTD of an XML document. In XML notations are used to specify the format of an unparsed entity or to formally declare a processing instruction target.

The getNodeName( ) method of the Node interface returns the name of the notation. getSystemId( ) and getPublicId( ) return the system identifier and the public identifier specified in the notation declaration. The getNotations( ) method of the DocumentType interface returns a NamedNodeMap of Notation objects declared in the DTD and provides a way to look up Notation objects by notation name.

Because notations appear in the DTD and not the document itself, Notation nodes are never part of the document tree, and the getParentNode( ) method always returns null. Similarly, since XML notation declarations never have any content, a Notation node never has children and getChildNodes( ) always returns null. Notation objects are read-only and cannot be modified in any way.

Figure 21-12. org.w3c.dom.Notation

public interface Notation extends Node {
// Public Instance Methods
     String getPublicId( );  
     String getSystemId( );  
}