EStructuralFeature

EStructuralFeature is a concept within the Eclipse Modeling Framework (EMF) that represents a structural element of a model. It is a fundamental type within the Ecore metamodel, which is the foundation for defining EMF models. Structural features can be either attributes or references.

An EAttribute, a subclass of EStructuralFeature, represents a data property of a model element. It holds a simple value, such as a string, integer, or boolean. For instance, a "name" property of a "Person" object would be an EAttribute.

An EReference, also a subclass of EStructuralFeature, represents a relationship between model elements. It links one model element to another, potentially with a multiplicity indicating how many other elements can be referenced. For example, a "Person" might have an EReference to an "Address" object.

EStructuralFeature defines common properties for both attributes and references, such as their name, type, containment status, and multiplicity. The containment property is particularly important, indicating whether the referenced object is owned by the containing object. This information is crucial for persistence and serialization within EMF. Understanding EStructuralFeature is key to working with and defining models using the Eclipse Modeling Framework.