def entity(self, entity_type, identifier=None):
        """Factory method for creating an Entity.

        If an entity with the same type and identifier already exists,
        this will return a reference to that entity.  If not, it will
        create a new one and add it to the list of known entities for
        this ACL.

        :type entity_type: str
        :param entity_type: The type of entity to create
                            (ie, ``user``, ``group``, etc)

        :type identifier: str
        :param identifier: The ID of the entity (if applicable).
                           This can be either an ID or an e-mail address.

        :rtype: :class:`_ACLEntity`
        :returns: A new Entity or a reference to an existing identical entity.
        """
        entity = _ACLEntity(entity_type=entity_type, identifier=identifier)
        if self.has_entity(entity):
            entity = self.get_entity(entity)
        else:
            self.add_entity(entity)
        return entity
Factory method for creating an Entity.

        If an entity with the same type and identifier already exists,
        this will return a reference to that entity.  If not, it will
        create a new one and add it to the list of known entities for
        this ACL.

        :type entity_type: str
        :param entity_type: The type of entity to create
                            (ie, ``user``, ``group``, etc)

        :type identifier: str
        :param identifier: The ID of the entity (if applicable).
                           This can be either an ID or an e-mail address.

        :rtype: :class:`_ACLEntity`
        :returns: A new Entity or a reference to an existing identical entity.