// Licensed to the .NET Foundation under one or more agreements.
// The .NET Foundation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.

namespace System.Collections.Immutable
{
    /// <summary>
    /// An internal non-generic interface implemented by <see cref="ImmutableArray{T}"/>
    /// that allows for recognition of an <see cref="ImmutableArray{T}"/> instance and access
    /// to its underlying array, without actually knowing the type of value
    /// stored in it.
    /// </summary>
    /// <remarks>
    /// Casting to this interface requires a boxed instance of the <see cref="ImmutableArray{T}"/> struct,
    /// and as such should be avoided. This interface is useful, however, where the value
    /// is already boxed and we want to try to reuse immutable arrays instead of copying them.
    /// ** This interface is INTENTIONALLY INTERNAL, as it gives access to the inner array.  **
    /// </remarks>
    internal interface IImmutableArray
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Gets an untyped reference to the array.
        /// </summary>
        Array? Array { get; }
    }
}