Software Design Patterns Questions Long
The Adapter design pattern is used to convert the interface of one class into another interface that clients expect. It allows classes with incompatible interfaces to work together by acting as a bridge between them.
The purpose of the Adapter design pattern is to enable the collaboration between classes that would otherwise be incompatible due to differing interfaces. It is particularly useful when integrating existing or third-party code into a new system, as it allows the new system to interact with the existing code without making any changes to it.
The Adapter pattern is typically used in the following scenarios:
1. Legacy code integration: When integrating legacy code into a new system, the existing code may have interfaces that are incompatible with the new system. By using the Adapter pattern, the new system can communicate with the legacy code without modifying it.
2. Interface conversion: When two classes have different interfaces but need to work together, an adapter can be used to convert the interface of one class into the interface expected by the other class. This allows them to collaborate seamlessly.
3. Reusability: Adapters can be used to make existing classes compatible with new systems or frameworks. Instead of modifying the existing classes, an adapter can be created to adapt their interface to the requirements of the new system or framework.
4. Simplifying complex interfaces: Sometimes, a class may have a complex interface with many methods, but the client only needs to use a subset of those methods. In such cases, an adapter can be created to provide a simplified interface that exposes only the required methods, making it easier for the client to use.
Overall, the Adapter design pattern provides a way to make classes with incompatible interfaces work together, promoting code reusability, and simplifying integration between different systems or components.