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AIMA-Java Core Algorithms from the book Artificial Intelligence a Modern Approach 3rd Ed.

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package aima.core.search.local;

/**
 * Artificial Intelligence A Modern Approach (3rd Edition): page 127.

 * 

 * Each state is rated by the objective function, or (in Genetic Algorithm
 * terminology) the fitness function. A fitness function should return higher
 * values for better states.
 * 

 * Here, we assume that all values are greater or equal to zero.
 * 
 * @author Ciaran O'Reilly
 * 
 * @param 
 *            the type of the alphabet used in the representation of the
 *            individuals in the population (this is to provide flexibility in
 *            terms of how a problem can be encoded).
 */
public interface FitnessFunction {

	/**
	 * 
	 * @param individual
	 *            the individual whose fitness is to be accessed.
	 * @return the individual's fitness value (the higher the better).
	 */
	double apply(Individual individual);
}