Creational Patterns - Factory Method Pattern

The Factory Method defines a method, which should be used for creating objects instead of using a direct constructor call (new operator). It provides an interface for creating objects and allows subclasses to alter the type of object that will be created.

Applicability

• You need to support multiple product variations
• You want to add new product types without modifying existing code
• The object creational logic is wanted to be centralised

Approach

1. Define an interface for creating an object, so called creator interface
2. Implement concrete creator classes which create a specific type of product
3. In client code, use the creator interface and its factory method to create products without knowing the specific concrete product classes. (AKA Virtual Constructor)

Components

• Product (abstract)
  • Defines an interface of objects the factory method creates
• Concrete product
  • Implements the product interface
• Creator (abstract)
  • Declares the factory method, which returns an object of type product
• Concrete creator
  • Overrides the factory method to return an instance of the concrete product

Example

Identify factory method components

Product: Shape Concrete product: Rectangle, Circle Creator: ShapeCreator Concrete creator: RectangleCreator, CircleCreator

Product

Shape is an abstract product that defines the the common interface for all products. It declares common behaviours of its products.

public interface Shape { 
	void draw(); 
}

Concrete product

Concrete product implements the abstract product.

class Rectangle extends Shape {
    @Override
    void draw() {
        System.out.println("Drawing a Rectangle");
    }
}

class Circle extends Shape {
    @Override
    void draw() {
        System.out.println("Drawing a Circle");
    }
}

Creator

The creator is an interface that declares the factory method createShape()

// Abstract Creator: ShapeCreator
interface ShapeCreator {
    Shape createShape();
}

Concrete creator

Concrete creators provides their own implementation of creator interface.

// Concrete Creators: RectangleCreator and CircleCreator
class RectangleCreator implements ShapeCreator {
    @Override
    public Shape createShape() {
        return new Rectangle();
    }
}
 
class CircleCreator implements ShapeCreator {
    @Override
    public Shape createShape() {
        return new Circle();
    }
}

Client

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Create concrete creators
        ShapeCreator rectangleCreator = new RectangleCreator();
        ShapeCreator circleCreator = new CircleCreator();
 
        // Use the factory methods to create shapes
        Shape rectangle = rectangleCreator.createShape();
        Shape circle = circleCreator.createShape();
 
        // Draw the shapes
        rectangle.draw();
        circle.draw();
    }
}
 

---

Back to parent page: Creational Patterns

Design_Pattern Creational_Design_Patterns SOFT2201 Factory_Method_Pattern