--- /dev/null
+package jalview.datamodel.features;
+
+import jalview.datamodel.SequenceFeature;
+import jalview.util.matcher.MatcherI;
+
+/**
+ * An interface for an object that can apply a match condition to a
+ * SequenceFeature object
+ *
+ * @author gmcarstairs
+ */
+public interface FeatureMatcherI
+{
+ /**
+ * Answers true if the value provided for this matcher's key passes this
+ * matcher's match condition
+ *
+ * @param feature
+ * @return
+ */
+ boolean matches(SequenceFeature feature);
+
+ /**
+ * Answers the value key this matcher operates on
+ *
+ * @return
+ */
+ String[] getKey();
+
+ /**
+ * Answers the match condition that is applied
+ *
+ * @return
+ */
+ MatcherI getMatcher();
+}