Anticlue: Classifying Design Patterns

March 27, 2004

Classifying Design Patterns

In reviewing Design Patterns and following Data and Object Factory's Patterns I figured I'd share a classification of the GOF design patterns.

Creational Patterns	How to make an object.
Class
Factory Method		Makes an instance of several derived classes based on interfaced data or events.
Object
Abstract Factory		Creates an instance of several families of classes without detailing concrete classes.
Builder		Separates object construction from its representation, always creates the same type of object.
Prototype		A fully initialized instance used for copying or cloning.
Singleton		A class with only a single instance with global access points.

Structural Patterns	The building blocks of objects
Class
Adapter		Match interfaces of different classes therefore classes can work together despite incompatible interfaces
Object
Adapter		Match interfaces of different classes therefore classes can work together despite incompatible interfaces
Bridge		Separates an object's interface from its implementation so the two can vary independently
Composite		A structure of simple and composite objects which makes the total object more than just the sum of its parts.
Decorator		Dynamically add alternate processing to objects.
Facade		A single class that hides the complexity an entire subsystem.
Flyweight		A fine-grained instance used for efficient sharing of information contained elsewhere.
Proxy		A place holder object representing the true object

Behavioral Patterns	the way objects play and work.
Class
Interpreter		A way to include language elements in a program to match the grammer of the intended language.
Template Method		Create the shell of an algorithm in a method, then defer the exact steps to a subclass.
Object
Chain of Responsibility		A way of passing a request between a chain of objects to find the object that can handle the request.
Command		Encapsulate a command request as an object to enable, logging and/or queuing of requests, and provides error-handling for unhandled requests.
Iterator		Sequentially access the elements of a collection without knowing the inner workings of the collection.
Mediator		Defines simplified communication between classes to prevent a group of classes from referring explicitly to each other.
Memento		Capture an object's internal state to be able to restore it later.
Observer		A way of notifying change to a number of classes to ensure consistency between the classes.
State		Alter an object's behavior when its state changes
Strategy		Encapsulates an algorithm inside a class separating the selection from the implementation
Visitor		Adds a new operation to a class without changing the class