public interface ServletRequest {
/**
* Returns the value of the named attribute as an <code>Object</code>, or
* <code>null</code> if no attribute of the given name exists.
* <p>
* Attributes can be set two ways. The servlet container may set attributes
* to make available custom information about a request. For example, for
* requests made using HTTPS, the attribute
* <code>javax.servlet.request.X509Certificate</code> can be used to
* retrieve information on the certificate of the client. Attributes can
* also be set programmatically using {@link ServletRequest#setAttribute}.
* This allows information to be embedded into a request before a
* {@link RequestDispatcher} call.
* <p>
* Attribute names should follow the same conventions as package names.
* Names beginning with <code>java.*</code> and <code>javax.*</code> are
* reserved for use by the Servlet specification. Names beginning with
* <code>sun.*</code>, <code>com.sun.*</code>, <code>oracle.*</code> and
* <code>com.oracle.*</code>) are reserved for use by Oracle Corporation.
*
* @param name
* a <code>String</code> specifying the name of the attribute
* @return an <code>Object</code> containing the value of the attribute, or
* <code>null</code> if the attribute does not exist
*/
public Object getAttribute(String name);