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Java Design Patterns

Quick reference for all Gang of Four design patterns in Java.

Pattern Selection Guide

Creational Patterns (Object Creation)

Structural Patterns (Object Composition)

Behavioral Patterns (Object Interaction)

Creational Patterns

1. Singleton Pattern

Ensure a class has only one instance with global access.

// Thread-Safe Singleton with Double-Checked Locking
public final class DatabaseConnection {
    private static volatile DatabaseConnection instance;
    
    private DatabaseConnection() {
        // private constructor
    }
    
    public static DatabaseConnection getInstance() {
        if (instance == null) {
            synchronized (DatabaseConnection.class) {
                if (instance == null) {
                    instance = new DatabaseConnection();
                }
            }
        }
        return instance;
    }
}

// Alternative: Enum Singleton (serialization-safe, reflection-safe)
public enum EnumSingleton {
    INSTANCE;
    
    public void doSomething() {
        // business logic
    }
}

Use for: DB connections, caches, thread pools, configuration

2. Factory Method Pattern

Create objects without specifying exact class.

// Product Interface
public interface Notification {
    void send(String message);
}

// Concrete Products
public class EmailNotification implements Notification {
    public void send(String message) {
        System.out.println("Email: " + message);
    }
}

public class SmsNotification implements Notification {
    public void send(String message) {
        System.out.println("SMS: " + message);
    }
}

// Creator
public abstract class NotificationFactory {
    abstract Notification createNotification();
    
    public void notifyUser(String message) {
        Notification notification = createNotification();
        notification.send(message);
    }
}

// Concrete Creators
public class EmailNotificationFactory extends NotificationFactory {
    Notification createNotification() {
        return new EmailNotification();
    }
}

// Usage
NotificationFactory factory = new EmailNotificationFactory();
factory.notifyUser("Hello!");

3. Abstract Factory Pattern

Create families of related objects.

// Abstract Factory
public interface GUIFactory {
    Button createButton();
    Checkbox createCheckbox();
}

// Concrete Factories
public class WindowsFactory implements GUIFactory {
    public Button createButton() { return new WindowsButton(); }
    public Checkbox createCheckbox() { return new WindowsCheckbox(); }
}

public class MacFactory implements GUIFactory {
    public Button createButton() { return new MacButton(); }
    public Checkbox createCheckbox() { return new MacCheckbox(); }
}

// Usage
GUIFactory factory = System.getProperty("os.name").contains("Windows") 
    ? new WindowsFactory() : new MacFactory();
Button button = factory.createButton();

4. Builder Pattern

Construct complex objects step by step.

// With Lombok (Recommended)
@Data
@Builder
public class User {
    private String id;
    private String email;
    private String name;
    private int age;
    private String address;
}

// Usage
User user = User.builder()
    .id("123")
    .email("user@example.com")
    .name("John")
    .build();

// Manual Implementation
public class UserBuilder {
    private User user = new User();
    
    public UserBuilder withEmail(String email) {
        user.setEmail(email);
        return this;
    }
    
    public UserBuilder withName(String name) {
        user.setName(name);
        return this;
    }
    
    public User build() {
        // validation
        if (user.getEmail() == null) {
            throw new IllegalStateException("Email is required");
        }
        return user;
    }
}

5. Prototype Pattern

Clone existing objects.

public interface Prototype<T> extends Cloneable {
    T clone();
}

public class Document implements Prototype<Document> {
    private String title;
    private String content;
    private List<String> tags;
    
    // Deep copy
    @Override
    public Document clone() {
        try {
            Document cloned = (Document) super.clone();
            cloned.tags = new ArrayList<>(this.tags); // deep copy list
            return cloned;
        } catch (CloneNotSupportedException e) {
            throw new RuntimeException(e);
        }
    }
}

// Usage
Document template = new Document("Template", "Content", Arrays.asList("tag1"));
Document copy = template.clone();

Structural Patterns

6. Adapter Pattern

Convert interface to another expected by client.

// Target interface
public interface MediaPlayer {
    void play(String filename);
}

// Adaptee (existing interface)
public interface AdvancedMediaPlayer {
    void playMp4(String filename);
    void playVlc(String filename);
}

// Adapter
public class MediaAdapter implements MediaPlayer {
    private AdvancedMediaPlayer advancedPlayer;
    
    public MediaAdapter(String audioType) {
        if (audioType.equalsIgnoreCase("mp4")) {
            advancedPlayer = new Mp4Player();
        }
    }
    
    public void play(String filename) {
        advancedPlayer.playMp4(filename);
    }
}

7. Bridge Pattern

Separate abstraction from implementation.

// Implementation interface
public interface DrawingAPI {
    void drawCircle(double x, double y, double radius);
}

// Concrete Implementations
public class DrawingAPI1 implements DrawingAPI {
    public void drawCircle(double x, double y, double r) {
        System.out.printf("API1.circle at (%.2f,%.2f) radius %.2f%n", x, y, r);
    }
}

// Abstraction
public abstract class Shape {
    protected DrawingAPI drawingAPI;
    
    protected Shape(DrawingAPI api) {
        this.drawingAPI = api;
    }
    
    public abstract void draw();
}

// Refined Abstraction
public class CircleShape extends Shape {
    private double x, y, radius;
    
    public CircleShape(double x, double y, double r, DrawingAPI api) {
        super(api);
        this.x = x; this.y = y; this.radius = r;
    }
    
    public void draw() {
        drawingAPI.drawCircle(x, y, radius);
    }
}

// Usage
Shape circle = new CircleShape(1, 2, 3, new DrawingAPI1());
circle.draw();

8. Composite Pattern

Compose objects into tree structures.

// Component
public interface Employee {
    void showEmployeeDetails();
    double getSalary();
}

// Leaf
public class Developer implements Employee {
    private String name;
    private double salary;
    
    public void showEmployeeDetails() {
        System.out.println(name + " - " + salary);
    }
    
    public double getSalary() { return salary; }
}

// Composite
public class Manager implements Employee {
    private String name;
    private double salary;
    private List<Employee> employees = new ArrayList<>();
    
    public void addEmployee(Employee emp) {
        employees.add(emp);
    }
    
    public void showEmployeeDetails() {
        System.out.println(name + " - " + salary);
        for (Employee emp : employees) {
            emp.showEmployeeDetails();
        }
    }
    
    public double getSalary() {
        return salary + employees.stream().mapToDouble(Employee::getSalary).sum();
    }
}

9. Decorator Pattern

Add responsibilities dynamically.

// Component
public interface Coffee {
    double getCost();
    String getDescription();
}

// Concrete Component
public class SimpleCoffee implements Coffee {
    public double getCost() { return 10; }
    public String getDescription() { return "Simple coffee"; }
}

// Decorator
public abstract class CoffeeDecorator implements Coffee {
    protected Coffee decoratedCoffee;
    
    public CoffeeDecorator(Coffee coffee) {
        this.decoratedCoffee = coffee;
    }
    
    public double getCost() {
        return decoratedCoffee.getCost();
    }
    
    public String getDescription() {
        return decoratedCoffee.getDescription();
    }
}

// Concrete Decorators
public class Milk extends CoffeeDecorator {
    public Milk(Coffee coffee) { super(coffee); }
    
    public double getCost() { return super.getCost() + 2; }
    public String getDescription() { return super.getDescription() + ", milk"; }
}

// Usage
Coffee coffee = new SimpleCoffee();
coffee = new Milk(coffee);
coffee = new Sugar(coffee);
System.out.println(coffee.getDescription() + " $" + coffee.getCost());

10. Facade Pattern

Simplified interface to complex subsystem.

public class ComputerFacade {
    private CPU cpu;
    private Memory memory;
    private HardDrive hardDrive;
    
    public ComputerFacade() {
        this.cpu = new CPU();
        this.memory = new Memory();
        this.hardDrive = new HardDrive();
    }
    
    public void start() {
        cpu.freeze();
        memory.load(0, hardDrive.read(0, 1024));
        cpu.jump(0);
        cpu.execute();
    }
    
    public void shutdown() {
        cpu.stop();
        memory.clear();
    }
}

// Usage - simple interface hides complexity
ComputerFacade computer = new ComputerFacade();
computer.start();

11. Flyweight Pattern

Share data to support large numbers of objects.

// Flyweight
public interface Character {
    void display(int position);
}

// Concrete Flyweight (intrinsic state)
public class CharacterGlyph implements Character {
    private char symbol; // shared
    private String font; // shared
    
    public CharacterGlyph(char symbol, String font) {
        this.symbol = symbol;
        this.font = font;
    }
    
    public void display(int position) { // extrinsic state
        System.out.println(symbol + " at position " + position);
    }
}

// Flyweight Factory
public class CharacterFactory {
    private Map<String, Character> characters = new HashMap<>();
    
    public Character getCharacter(char symbol, String font) {
        String key = symbol + font;
        return characters.computeIfAbsent(key, 
            k -> new CharacterGlyph(symbol, font));
    }
}

12. Proxy Pattern

Placeholder to control access.

// Subject
public interface Image {
    void display();
}

// Real Subject
public class RealImage implements Image {
    private String filename;
    
    public RealImage(String filename) {
        this.filename = filename;
        loadFromDisk();
    }
    
    private void loadFromDisk() {
        System.out.println("Loading " + filename);
    }
    
    public void display() {
        System.out.println("Displaying " + filename);
    }
}

// Proxy
public class ProxyImage implements Image {
    private RealImage realImage;
    private String filename;
    
    public ProxyImage(String filename) {
        this.filename = filename;
    }
    
    public void display() {
        if (realImage == null) {
            realImage = new RealImage(filename); // lazy loading
        }
        realImage.display();
    }
}

// Usage
Image image = new ProxyImage("photo.jpg"); // no loading yet
image.display(); // loads and displays

Behavioral Patterns

13. Chain of Responsibility Pattern

Pass requests along chain of handlers.

public abstract class Logger {
    public static int INFO = 1;
    public static int DEBUG = 2;
    public static int ERROR = 3;
    
    protected int level;
    protected Logger nextLogger;
    
    public void setNextLogger(Logger next) {
        this.nextLogger = next;
    }
    
    public void logMessage(int level, String message) {
        if (this.level <= level) {
            write(message);
        }
        if (nextLogger != null) {
            nextLogger.logMessage(level, message);
        }
    }
    
    abstract protected void write(String message);
}

// Concrete Handlers
public class ConsoleLogger extends Logger {
    public ConsoleLogger(int level) { this.level = level; }
    protected void write(String message) {
        System.out.println("Console: " + message);
    }
}

// Usage - chain them together
Logger loggerChain = new ConsoleLogger(Logger.INFO);
Logger errorLogger = new ErrorLogger(Logger.ERROR);
loggerChain.setNextLogger(errorLogger);

loggerChain.logMessage(Logger.INFO, "Info message");

14. Command Pattern

Encapsulate requests as objects.

// Command
public interface Command {
    void execute();
    void undo();
}

// Receiver
public class Light {
    public void on() { System.out.println("Light is on"); }
    public void off() { System.out.println("Light is off"); }
}

// Concrete Command
public class LightOnCommand implements Command {
    private Light light;
    
    public LightOnCommand(Light light) { this.light = light; }
    
    public void execute() { light.on(); }
    public void undo() { light.off(); }
}

// Invoker
public class RemoteControl {
    private Command command;
    
    public void setCommand(Command cmd) { this.command = cmd; }
    public void pressButton() { command.execute(); }
    public void pressUndo() { command.undo(); }
}

// Usage
Light light = new Light();
Command lightOn = new LightOnCommand(light);

RemoteControl remote = new RemoteControl();
remote.setCommand(lightOn);
remote.pressButton();

15. Iterator Pattern

Traverse collection without exposing internals.

// Iterator
public interface Iterator<T> {
    boolean hasNext();
    T next();
}

// Aggregate
public interface Container<T> {
    Iterator<T> getIterator();
}

// Concrete Collection
public class NameRepository implements Container<String> {
    private String[] names = {"Robert", "John", "Julie"};
    
    public Iterator<String> getIterator() {
        return new NameIterator();
    }
    
    private class NameIterator implements Iterator<String> {
        private int index;
        
        public boolean hasNext() {
            return index < names.length;
        }
        
        public String next() {
            return hasNext() ? names[index++] : null;
        }
    }
}

// Usage - Java's enhanced for-loop uses Iterator internally
NameRepository repo = new NameRepository();
for (Iterator<String> it = repo.getIterator(); it.hasNext(); ) {
    System.out.println(it.next());
}

16. Mediator Pattern

Encapsulate how objects interact.

// Mediator
public interface ChatMediator {
    void sendMessage(String msg, User user);
    void addUser(User user);
}

// Concrete Mediator
public class ChatMediatorImpl implements ChatMediator {
    private List<User> users = new ArrayList<>();
    
    public void addUser(User user) {
        users.add(user);
    }
    
    public void sendMessage(String msg, User sender) {
        for (User user : users) {
            if (user != sender) {
                user.receive(msg);
            }
        }
    }
}

// Colleague
public abstract class User {
    protected ChatMediator mediator;
    protected String name;
    
    public User(ChatMediator med, String name) {
        this.mediator = med;
        this.name = name;
    }
    
    public abstract void send(String msg);
    public abstract void receive(String msg);
}

// Concrete Colleague
public class UserImpl extends User {
    public UserImpl(ChatMediator med, String name) {
        super(med, name);
    }
    
    public void send(String msg) {
        System.out.println(name + ": Sending Message=" + msg);
        mediator.sendMessage(msg, this);
    }
    
    public void receive(String msg) {
        System.out.println(name + ": Received Message=" + msg);
    }
}

// Usage
ChatMediator mediator = new ChatMediatorImpl();
User user1 = new UserImpl(mediator, "John");
User user2 = new UserImpl(mediator, "Jane");

mediator.addUser(user1);
mediator.addUser(user2);

user1.send("Hi Jane!");

17. Memento Pattern

Capture and restore object state.

// Memento
public class EditorMemento {
    private final String content;
    private final LocalDateTime savedAt;
    
    public EditorMemento(String content) {
        this.content = content;
        this.savedAt = LocalDateTime.now();
    }
    
    public String getContent() { return content; }
}

// Originator
public class Editor {
    private String content;
    
    public void setContent(String content) {
        this.content = content;
    }
    
    public String getContent() { return content; }
    
    public EditorMemento save() {
        return new EditorMemento(content);
    }
    
    public void restore(EditorMemento memento) {
        content = memento.getContent();
    }
}

// Caretaker
public class History {
    private List<EditorMemento> mementos = new ArrayList<>();
    private Editor editor;
    
    public History(Editor editor) {
        this.editor = editor;
    }
    
    public void backup() {
        mementos.add(editor.save());
    }
    
    public void undo() {
        if (!mementos.isEmpty()) {
            EditorMemento memento = mementos.remove(mementos.size() - 1);
            editor.restore(memento);
        }
    }
}

// Usage
Editor editor = new Editor();
History history = new History(editor);

editor.setContent("Version 1");
history.backup();

editor.setContent("Version 2");
history.undo(); // Restores to "Version 1"

18. Observer Pattern

Define one-to-many dependency.

// Observer
public interface StockObserver {
    void update(String stockSymbol, double price);
}

// Subject
public interface StockSubject {
    void registerObserver(StockObserver observer);
    void removeObserver(StockObserver observer);
    void notifyObservers();
}

// Concrete Subject
public class StockPrice implements StockSubject {
    private List<StockObserver> observers = new ArrayList<>();
    private String symbol;
    private double price;
    
    public void setPrice(double price) {
        this.price = price;
        notifyObservers();
    }
    
    public void registerObserver(StockObserver observer) {
        observers.add(observer);
    }
    
    public void notifyObservers() {
        for (StockObserver observer : observers) {
            observer.update(symbol, price);
        }
    }
}

// Concrete Observer
public class MobileApp implements StockObserver {
    public void update(String symbol, double price) {
        System.out.println("MobileApp: " + symbol + " is now $" + price);
    }
}

// Usage with Java's built-in (java.util.Observer is deprecated, use PropertyChangeListener)
StockPrice stock = new StockPrice();
stock.registerObserver(new MobileApp());
stock.registerObserver(new WebApp());

stock.setPrice(150.00); // Notifies all observers

19. State Pattern

Alter behavior when state changes.

// State
public interface VendingMachineState {
    void insertMoney();
    void ejectMoney();
    void dispense();
}

// Concrete States
public class NoMoneyState implements VendingMachineState {
    private VendingMachine machine;
    
    public NoMoneyState(VendingMachine machine) {
        this.machine = machine;
    }
    
    public void insertMoney() {
        System.out.println("Money inserted");
        machine.setState(machine.getHasMoneyState());
    }
    
    public void ejectMoney() {
        System.out.println("No money to eject");
    }
    
    public void dispense() {
        System.out.println("Insert money first");
    }
}

// Context
public class VendingMachine {
    private VendingMachineState noMoneyState;
    private VendingMachineState hasMoneyState;
    private VendingMachineState currentState;
    
    public VendingMachine() {
        noMoneyState = new NoMoneyState(this);
        hasMoneyState = new HasMoneyState(this);
        currentState = noMoneyState;
    }
    
    public void setState(VendingMachineState state) {
        this.currentState = state;
    }
    
    public void insertMoney() { currentState.insertMoney(); }
    public void ejectMoney() { currentState.ejectMoney(); }
    public void dispense() { currentState.dispense(); }
    
    public VendingMachineState getNoMoneyState() { return noMoneyState; }
    public VendingMachineState getHasMoneyState() { return hasMoneyState; }
}

20. Strategy Pattern

Family of algorithms, interchangeable.

// Strategy
public interface PaymentStrategy {
    void pay(int amount);
}

// Concrete Strategies
public class CreditCardPayment implements PaymentStrategy {
    private String cardNumber;
    
    public CreditCardPayment(String cardNumber) {
        this.cardNumber = cardNumber;
    }
    
    public void pay(int amount) {
        System.out.println("Paid " + amount + " using Credit Card " + cardNumber);
    }
}

public class PayPalPayment implements PaymentStrategy {
    private String email;
    
    public PayPalPayment(String email) {
        this.email = email;
    }
    
    public void pay(int amount) {
        System.out.println("Paid " + amount + " using PayPal " + email);
    }
}

// Context
public class ShoppingCart {
    private PaymentStrategy paymentStrategy;
    
    public void setPaymentStrategy(PaymentStrategy strategy) {
        this.paymentStrategy = strategy;
    }
    
    public void checkout(int amount) {
        paymentStrategy.pay(amount);
    }
}

// Usage
ShoppingCart cart = new ShoppingCart();
cart.setPaymentStrategy(new CreditCardPayment("1234-5678"));
cart.checkout(100);

cart.setPaymentStrategy(new PayPalPayment("user@example.com"));
cart.checkout(50);

21. Template Method Pattern

Algorithm skeleton in base class.

// Abstract Class with Template Method
public abstract class DataImporter {
    // Template method - defines the algorithm
    public final void importData(String filePath) {
        String data = readFile(filePath);
        validate(data);
        parse(data);
        save(data);
        notifyCompletion();
    }
    
    // Concrete methods
    protected String readFile(String filePath) {
        // Common implementation
        return "file content";
    }
    
    protected void notifyCompletion() {
        System.out.println("Import completed");
    }
    
    // Abstract methods - implemented by subclasses
    protected abstract void validate(String data);
    protected abstract void parse(String data);
    protected abstract void save(String data);
}

// Concrete Class
public class CsvImporter extends DataImporter {
    protected void validate(String data) {
        System.out.println("Validating CSV format");
    }
    
    protected void parse(String data) {
        System.out.println("Parsing CSV data");
    }
    
    protected void save(String data) {
        System.out.println("Saving CSV records");
    }
}

// Usage
DataImporter importer = new CsvImporter();
importer.importData("data.csv"); // Executes full workflow

22. Visitor Pattern

Separate operations from objects.

// Element
public interface Shape {
    void accept(ShapeVisitor visitor);
}

// Concrete Elements
public class Circle implements Shape {
    private double radius;
    
    public void accept(ShapeVisitor visitor) {
        visitor.visit(this);
    }
    
    public double getRadius() { return radius; }
}

public class Rectangle implements Shape {
    private double width, height;
    
    public void accept(ShapeVisitor visitor) {
        visitor.visit(this);
    }
    
    public double getWidth() { return width; }
    public double getHeight() { return height; }
}

// Visitor
public interface ShapeVisitor {
    void visit(Circle circle);
    void visit(Rectangle rectangle);
}

// Concrete Visitor
public class AreaCalculator implements ShapeVisitor {
    private double totalArea;
    
    public void visit(Circle circle) {
        totalArea += Math.PI * circle.getRadius() * circle.getRadius();
    }
    
    public void visit(Rectangle rectangle) {
        totalArea += rectangle.getWidth() * rectangle.getHeight();
    }
    
    public double getTotalArea() { return totalArea; }
}

// Another Visitor
public class ShapeDrawer implements ShapeVisitor {
    public void visit(Circle circle) {
        System.out.println("Drawing circle");
    }
    
    public void visit(Rectangle rectangle) {
        System.out.println("Drawing rectangle");
    }
}

// Usage
List<Shape> shapes = Arrays.asList(new Circle(), new Rectangle());

AreaCalculator calculator = new AreaCalculator();
for (Shape shape : shapes) {
    shape.accept(calculator);
}
System.out.println("Total area: " + calculator.getTotalArea());

ShapeDrawer drawer = new ShapeDrawer();
for (Shape shape : shapes) {
    shape.accept(drawer);
}

Quick Reference

Pattern Categories

• Creational : Singleton, Factory, Abstract Factory, Builder, Prototype
• Structural : Adapter, Bridge, Composite, Decorator, Facade, Flyweight, Proxy
• Behavioral : Chain of Responsibility, Command, Iterator, Mediator, Memento, Observer, State, Strategy, Template Method, Visitor

Modern Java Alternatives

• Singleton : Consider dependency injection (Spring) instead
• Observer : Use PropertyChangeListener or reactive streams (RxJava, Project Reactor)
• Iterator : Java's enhanced for-loop and Stream API
• Strategy : Java 8+ lambdas and method references
• Template Method : Functional interfaces and lambdas
• Visitor : Pattern matching (Java 16+ preview)

When NOT to Use Patterns

• Simple problems (KISS principle)
• Premature abstraction
• When they add unnecessary complexity
• When language features suffice (lambdas, streams, etc.)

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