Software Design Patterns Questions Long
The purpose of the Strategy design pattern is to define a family of algorithms, encapsulate each one, and make them interchangeable. It allows the algorithms to vary independently from the clients that use them.
The Strategy pattern should be used when there are multiple algorithms that can be used interchangeably within a system, and the choice of algorithm needs to be made dynamically at runtime. It provides a way to select an algorithm at runtime without tightly coupling the client code to a specific implementation.
By encapsulating each algorithm into its own class, the Strategy pattern promotes code reusability and maintainability. It also allows for easy addition or modification of algorithms without affecting the client code. This makes the system more flexible and extensible.
The Strategy pattern is particularly useful in situations where there are different variations or versions of an algorithm that need to be supported. It allows for easy addition or removal of algorithms without modifying the existing codebase.
Additionally, the Strategy pattern promotes the principle of "composition over inheritance" by favoring object composition over class inheritance. Instead of implementing different variations of an algorithm through subclassing, the Strategy pattern allows for the algorithms to be composed and selected dynamically at runtime.
Overall, the Strategy design pattern provides a flexible and maintainable solution for managing multiple algorithms within a system, allowing for easy interchangeability and runtime selection.