Learning JavaScript Design Patterns

Chapter 2. What Is a Pattern?

A pattern is a reusable solution that can be applied to commonly occurring problems in software design—in our case, in writing JavaScript web applications. Another way of looking at patterns is as templates for how we solve problems—ones that can be used in quite a few different situations.

So, why is it important to understand patterns and be familiar with them? Design patterns have three main benefits:

Patterns are proven solutions.

They provide solid approaches to solving issues in software development using proven techniques that reflect the experience and insights the developers that helped define them bring to the pattern.

Patterns can be easily reused.

A pattern usually reflects an out-of-the-box solution that can be adapted to suit our own needs. This feature makes them quite robust.

Patterns can be expressive.

When we look at a pattern, there’s generally a set structure and vocabulary to the solution presented that can help express rather large solutions quite elegantly.

Patterns are not exact solutions. It’s important that we remember the role of a pattern is merely to provide us with a solution scheme. Patterns don’t solve all design problems, nor do they replace good software designers, however, they do support them. Next, we’ll take a look at some of the other advantages patterns have to offer.

• Reusing patterns assists in preventing minor issues that can cause major problems in the application development process. What this means is when code is ...