Introduction
The Factory Method pattern provides an interface for creating objects but lets subclasses alter the type of objects that get created. This promotes loose coupling and makes code more scalable.
Real-Life Example
Think of a coffee shop where customers order a "coffee," but behind the scenes, the barista decides whether to serve espresso, cappuccino, or latte based on preferences. The customer doesn’t need to know the exact process—just the outcome.
Pros
Encapsulates object creation logic, reducing dependencies.
Promotes scalability by allowing easy extension.
Encourages adherence to the Open/Closed Principle.
Cons
Introduces extra complexity when simple object creation would suffice.
Can require additional subclassing, leading to larger codebases.
When to Use It
When the exact type of object needed isn’t known until runtime.
When creating objects involves complex logic that shouldn’t be duplicated.
Avoid for simple object instantiations where a direct constructor call is sufficient.
Conclusion
The Factory Method is a powerful abstraction that helps decouple object creation from business logic. It keeps code flexible but should be used when scalability is a concern.
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