/**
 * Uniquely identifies an entity by both its ID and generation.
 * Lets us uniquely distinguish between two entities, even those with the same ID that were created at different times
 * @example
 *  // 1. Get your EntityComponentDataset to where you manager entities.
 *  const ecd = ... ; // EntityComponentDataset
 *
 *  // 2. Create an entity (we'll get an ID).
 *  const entityId = ecd.createEntity();
 *
 *  // 3. Create an EntityReference and bind it to the entity.
 *  const entityRef = EntityReference.bind(ecd, entityId);
 *
 *  // 4. After you no longer need the entity - destroy the entity via reference.
 *  entityRef.destroy(ecd);
 *
 * @see {@link EntityComponentDataset}
 * @author Alex Goldring
 * @copyright Company Named Limited (c) 2026
 */
export class EntityReference {
    /**
     *
     * @param {number} id
     * @param {number} generation
     * @return {EntityReference}
     */
    static from(id: number, generation: number): EntityReference;
    /**
     *
     * @param {EntityComponentDataset} ecd
     * @param {number} id
     * @returns {EntityReference}
     */
    static bind(ecd: EntityComponentDataset, id: number): EntityReference;
    /**
     * Entity ID
     * When entity is live - this is the entity ID inside associated `EntityComponentDataset`, when the entity is not live - it's set to -1
     * @type {number}
     */
    id: number;
    /**
     * Entity generation number. This uniquely identifies an entity in combination with the ID
     * Generation of an existing entity must match for it to be considered "the same".
     * @see {@link EntityComponentDataset.getEntityGeneration}
     * @type {number}
     */
    generation: number;
    /**
     *
     * @param {EntityReference} other
     */
    copy(other: EntityReference): void;
    /**
     *
     * @returns {EntityReference}
     */
    clone(): EntityReference;
    /**
     *
     * @return {number}
     */
    hash(): number;
    /**
     *
     * @param {EntityReference} other
     * @return {boolean}
     */
    equals(other: EntityReference): boolean;
    /**
     * Checks whether referenced entity exists and the generation matches
     * @param {EntityComponentDataset} ecd
     * @returns {boolean}
     */
    verify(ecd: EntityComponentDataset): boolean;
    /**
     * Destroys entity bound to this reference
     * If the reference is invalid for the given dataset - does nothing
     * @param {EntityComponentDataset} ecd
     * @returns {boolean} true if entity was destroyed, false otherwise
     */
    destroy(ecd: EntityComponentDataset): boolean;
    /**
     * Bind reference to a specific entity
     * @param {EntityComponentDataset} ecd
     * @param {number} entity
     */
    bind(ecd: EntityComponentDataset, entity: number): void;
    /**
     *
     * @param {number} id
     * @param {number} generation
     */
    from(id: number, generation: number): void;
    /**
     * @readonly
     * @type {boolean}
     */
    readonly isEntityReference: boolean;
}
export namespace EntityReference {
    let NULL: EntityReference;
}
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