Module javafx.base
Package javafx.event

# Interface EventDispatcher

public interface EventDispatcher
An `EventDispatcher` represents an event dispatching and processing entity. It is used when an `Event` needs to be dispatched to the associated `EventTarget` through the `EventDispatchChain` specified by the target. Each `EventDispatcher` in the chain can influence the event path and the event itself. One `EventDispatcher` can appear in multiple chains.

The system defines two successive phases of event delivery. The first phase is called capturing phase and happens when when an event travels from the first element of the `EventDispatchChain` associated with the event target to its last element. If the event target is part of some hierarchy, the direction of the event in this phase usually corresponds with the direction from the root element of the hierarchy to the target. The second phase is called bubbling phase and happens in the reverse order to the first phase. So the event is returning back from the last element of the `EventDispatchChain` to its first element in this phase. Usually that corresponds to the direction from the event target back to the root in the event target's hierarchy.

Each `EventDispatcher` in an `EventDispatchChain` is responsible for forwarding the event to the rest of the chain during event dispatching. This forwarding happens in the `dispatchEvent` method and forms a chain of nested calls which allows one `EventDispatcher` to see the event during both dispatching phases in a single `dispatchEvent` call.

Template for `dispatchEvent` implementation.

    public Event dispatchEvent(Event event, EventDispatchChain tail) {
        // capturing phase, can handle / modify / substitute / divert the event

        if (notHandledYet) {
            // forward the event to the rest of the chain
            event = tail.dispatchEvent(event);

            if (event != null) {
                // bubbling phase, can handle / modify / substitute / divert
                // the event
            }
        }

        return notHandledYet ? event : null;

}

Since:
  JavaFX 2.0

## Method Summary

Modifier and Type
Method
Description
`Event`
`dispatchEvent(Event event, EventDispatchChain tail)`
Dispatches the specified event by this `EventDispatcher`.

## Method Details

### dispatchEvent

Event dispatchEvent(Event event, EventDispatchChain tail)
Dispatches the specified event by this `EventDispatcher`. Does any required event processing. Both the event and its further path can be modified in this method. If the event is not handled / consumed during the capturing phase, it should be dispatched to the rest of the chain (`event = tail.dispatch(event);`).

Parameters:
  `event` - the event do dispatch
  `tail` - the rest of the chain to dispatch event to
Returns:
  the return event or `null` if the event has been handled / consumed