Applied Java™ Patterns

Chapter 1. Creational Patterns

• Abstract Factory 6

• Builder 13

• Factory Method 21

• Prototype 28

• Singleton 34

Introduction to Creational Patterns

These patterns support one of the most common tasks in object-oriented programming—the creation of objects in a system. Most OO systems of any complexity require many objects to be instantiated over time, and these patterns support the creation process by helping to provide the following capabilities:

• Generic instantiation –. This allows objects to be created in a system without having to identify a specific class type in code.

• Simplicity –. Some of the patterns make object creation easier, so callers will not have to write large, complex code to instantiate an object.

• Creation constraints –. Some patterns enforce ...