001package org.biojava.ontology;
002
003/**
004 * A factory for Ontology instances.
005 *
006 * @author Matthew Pocock
007 */
008
009public interface OntologyFactory {
010  /**
011   * Creates a new Ontology
012   *
013   * @param name  the name to give the ontology
014   * @param description the description for the ontology
015   * @return an Ontology 
016   * @throws NullPointerException if either name or description are null
017   * @throws OntologyException if the ontology could not be created
018   */
019  public Ontology createOntology(String name, String description)
020  throws OntologyException;
021}