Prototype Design Pattern

The Prototype Design Pattern is a creational design pattern that is used for creating objects by cloning an existing object, known as the prototype. This pattern is particularly useful when the cost of creating an object is more expensive or complex than copying an existing one. It helps in achieving a balance between performance and flexibility.

key points of the Prototype Design Pattern:

1. Intent:

   • The main intent of the Prototype pattern is to create new objects by copying an existing object, known as the prototype. It allows the creation of new objects without using their exact class.

2. Key Components:

   • Prototype:
     • Declares an interface for cloning itself. This is the object that serves as the prototype for creating new objects.
   • ConcretePrototype:
     • Implements the Cloneable interface and provides an implementation for cloning itself. It is the object that is being cloned.
   • Client:
     • Requests new objects to be created by asking a prototype to clone itself.

3. Shallow vs. Deep Copy:

   • The Prototype pattern can involve shallow or deep copying. Shallow copying copies the object and its references, while deep copying creates a new object with copies of the object's fields and recursively copies referenced objects.

4. Cloneable Interface:

   • The Prototype should implement a Cloneable interface to indicate that it supports cloning. In some programming languages, this interface may not be present, and the prototype class may provide a clone method.

5. Advantages:

   • Flexibility: It allows for the creation of new objects without specifying their exact class. The client can clone prototypes without knowing their concrete types.
   • Efficiency: Prototype pattern can be more efficient than creating new objects using constructors, especially when the cost of object creation is high.

6. Use Cases:

   • The Prototype pattern is useful when the cost of creating a new object is more expensive than copying an existing one.
   • It is applicable when objects have multiple configurations, and creating a new object for each configuration is impractical.