| Feature                             | Abstract Factory                  | Factory Method                      |
|-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| **Intent**                          | Create families of related or dependent objects without specifying their concrete classes. | Define an interface for creating an object, leaving the choice of its type to the subclasses. |
| **Scope**                           | Creates families of related objects. | Creates a single object, allowing subclasses to alter the type of objects created.          |
| **Number of Classes Involved**      | Involves multiple classes: Abstract Factory, Concrete Factory, Abstract Product, Concrete Product. | Typically involves two classes: Creator (Abstract Creator) and Concrete Creator.          |
| **Creation Mechanism**              | Creates multiple related objects, often organized into families or themes. | Creates a single object, but the specific type is determined by subclasses.               |
| **Participants**                    | Abstract Factory, Concrete Factory, Abstract Product, Concrete Product. | Creator (Abstract Creator), Concrete Creator, Product, Concrete Product.                  |
| **Client Interaction**              | Clients use the Abstract Factory interface to create families of objects. | Clients use the Factory Method to create a single object without specifying its class.  |


PikoPost ^β

PikoPost ^β

Difference between Abstract Factory design pattern and Factory Method design pattern

Feature	Abstract Factory	Factory Method
Intent	Create families of related or dependent objects without specifying their concrete classes.	Define an interface for creating an object, leaving the choice of its type to the subclasses.
Scope	Creates families of related objects.	Creates a single object, allowing subclasses to alter the type of objects created.
Number of Classes Involved	Involves multiple classes: Abstract Factory, Concrete Factory, Abstract Product, Concrete Product.	Typically involves two classes: Creator (Abstract Creator) and Concrete Creator.
Creation Mechanism	Creates multiple related objects, often organized into families or themes.	Creates a single object, but the specific type is determined by subclasses.
Participants	Abstract Factory, Concrete Factory, Abstract Product, Concrete Product.	Creator (Abstract Creator), Concrete Creator, Product, Concrete Product.
Client Interaction	Clients use the Abstract Factory interface to create families of objects.	Clients use the Factory Method to create a single object without specifying its class.