VariantMetadata (iceberg-api 1.9.1 API)

```
public interface VariantMetadata
```
A variant metadata dictionary.

Method Summary

All Methods Static Methods Instance Methods Abstract Methods
Modifier and Type	Method	Description
`static java.lang.String`	`asString(VariantMetadata metadata)`
`int`	`dictionarySize()`	Returns the size of the metadata dictionary.
`static VariantMetadata`	`empty()`
`static VariantMetadata`	`from(java.nio.ByteBuffer buffer)`
`java.lang.String`	`get(int id)`	Returns the field name for an ID in metadata.
`int`	`id(java.lang.String name)`	Returns the ID for a `name` in the dictionary, or -1 if not present.
`int`	`sizeInBytes()`	Returns the serialized size in bytes of this value.
`int`	`writeTo(java.nio.ByteBuffer buffer, int offset)`	Writes this value to the buffer at the given offset, ignoring the buffer's position and limit.

- Method Detail
  - id
```
int id(java.lang.String name)
```
    Returns the ID for a name in the dictionary, or -1 if not present.
  - get
```
java.lang.String get(int id)
```
    Returns the field name for an ID in metadata.
    
    Throws:
    
    java.util.NoSuchElementException - if the dictionary does not contain the ID
  - dictionarySize
```
int dictionarySize()
```
    Returns the size of the metadata dictionary.
  - sizeInBytes
```
int sizeInBytes()
```
    Returns the serialized size in bytes of this value.
  - writeTo
```
int writeTo(java.nio.ByteBuffer buffer,
            int offset)
```
    Writes this value to the buffer at the given offset, ignoring the buffer's position and limit.
    sizeInBytes() bytes will be written to the buffer.
    
    Parameters:
    
    buffer - a ByteBuffer to write serialized metadata into
    
    offset - starting offset to write serialized metadata
    
    Returns:
    
    the number of bytes written
  - from
```
static VariantMetadata from(java.nio.ByteBuffer buffer)
```
  - empty
```
static VariantMetadata empty()
```
  - asString
```
static java.lang.String asString(VariantMetadata metadata)
```