hint什么意思？

[PINOCCHIOSYR]

俺现在还是Java的门外汉。求教。
在查Repast S的API时,其某个类的说明如下:
Class GeographyFactoryFinder
java.lang.Object
repast.simphony.context.space.gis.GeographyFactoryFinder

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public class GeographyFactoryFinderextends java.lang.Object

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Constructor Summary
GeographyFactoryFinder()

Method Summary
static GeographyFactory createGeographyFactory(java.util.Map<java.lang.String,java.lang.Object> hints)

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object
clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait


Constructor Detail

GeographyFactoryFinder
public GeographyFactoryFinder()Method Detail

createGeographyFactory
public static GeographyFactory createGeographyFactory(java.util.Map<java.lang.String,java.lang.Object> hints)

一些范例中,createGeographyFactory的用法是:createGeographyFactory(null);
我想问一下,API说明文件部分:
java.util.Map<java.lang.String,java.lang.Object> hints
这个是什么意思?

[gaoshanwushui]

public static GeographyFactory createGeographyFactory(java.util.Map<java.lang.String,java.lang.Object> hints)
这个是方法的定义。。hints 只是一个map类型类型的形参