javax.mail
Class Authenticator

java.lang.Object
  javax.mail.Authenticator

public abstract class Authenticator

extends java.lang.Object

The class Authenticator represents an object that knows how to obtain authentication for a network connection. Usually, it will do this by prompting the user for information.

Applications use this class by creating a subclass, and registering an instance of that subclass with the session when it is created. When authentication is required, the system will invoke a method on the subclass (like getPasswordAuthentication). The subclass's method can query about the authentication being requested with a number of inherited methods (getRequestingXXX()), and form an appropriate message for the user.

All methods that request authentication have a default implementation that fails.

Version:

1.5, 12/06/99

Author:

Bill Foote, Bill Shannon

See Also:

Authenticator, Session.getInstance(java.util.Properties, javax.mail.Authenticator), Session.getDefaultInstance(java.util.Properties, javax.mail.Authenticator), Session.requestPasswordAuthentication(java.net.InetAddress, int, java.lang.String, java.lang.String, java.lang.String), PasswordAuthentication

Constructor Summary

Authenticator()

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

equals, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait

Constructor Detail

Authenticator

public Authenticator()