code: /*
   * #%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);
  
  }
  