/*
 * #%L
 * Simmetrics Core
 * %%
 * Copyright (C) 2014 - 2016 Simmetrics Authors
 * %%
 * Licensed 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.
 * #L%
 */
package org.simmetrics.simplifiers;

import org.simmetrics.builders.StringMetricBuilder;

/**
 * Transforms a string into a simpler form.
 * <p>
 * Simplification increases the effectiveness of a metric by removing noise and
 * reducing the dimensionality of the problem. The process maps a a complex
 * string such as <code>Chilpéric II son of Childeric II</code> to a simpler
 * format <code>chilperic ii son of childeric ii</code>. This allows string from
 * different sources to be compared in the same normal form.
 * <p>
 * A simplifier can be added onto a metric through the
 * {@link StringMetricBuilder}.
 */
public interface Simplifier {

	/**
	 * Simplifiers the input string.
	 * 
	 * @param input
	 *            string to simplify
	 * @return a simplified string
	 */
	public String simplify(String input);

}
