Design Patterns Java™ Workbook

Abstract Factories for Look-and-Feel

Different operating systems have different standards about the look-and-feel—that is, the appearance and behavior—of user interface components. Java Swing comes with a platform-independent look-and-feel, as well as the ability to mimic the look-and-feel standards for Microsoft Windows and Motif. In application development, you can go well beyond these standards in specifying a look-and-feel for your application suite.

User environments that maintain consistent standards look more professional and are easier to use than systems that do not adhere to a standard. For example, you might want to standardize button sizes, fonts, background and foreground colors, border widths, and many other component attributes. ...