java-design-patterns/prototype/README.md

---
layout: pattern
title: Prototype
folder: prototype
permalink: /patterns/prototype/
pumlid: HSV13OCm30NGLM00udktCS62eCInxE-YRj_UUdjlRLfx7fBUbmkmU14vF-Lik7BF4AzJ8OfIvw3Mys6mqyrltWw9Tkfc38XhqE3uWSmd9Zuc9AZ_bVHHB4V_0W00
categories: Creational
tags: 
 - Java
 - Gang Of Four
 - Difficulty-Beginner
---

## Intent
Specify the kinds of objects to create using a prototypical
instance, and create new objects by copying this prototype.

![alt text](./etc/prototype_1.png "Prototype")

## Applicability
Use the Prototype pattern when a system should be independent of how its products are created, composed and represented; and

* when the classes to instantiate are specified at run-time, for example, by dynamic loading; or
* to avoid building a class hierarchy of factories that parallels the class hierarchy of products; or
* when instances of a class can have one of only a few different combinations of state. It may be more convenient to install a corresponding number of prototypes and clone them rather than instantiating the class manually, each time with the appropriate state

## Real world examples

* [java.lang.Object#clone()](http://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/java/lang/Object.html#clone%28%29)

## Credits

* [Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software](http://www.amazon.com/Design-Patterns-Elements-Reusable-Object-Oriented/dp/0201633612)
Work towards #56: Splitting up the README I did the job and splitted up the readme, hopefully everything was splitted correctly... 2015-08-13 23:54:40 +02:00			`---`
			`layout: pattern`
			`title: Prototype`
			`folder: prototype`
Work towards #56: Add permalink to every pattern This makes cleaner URLs thanks to jekyll 2015-08-15 18:03:05 +02:00			`permalink: /patterns/prototype/`
Work on #190: Commit initial pumlId's added by the script 2016-08-30 15:10:34 +02:00			`pumlid: HSV13OCm30NGLM00udktCS62eCInxE-YRj_UUdjlRLfx7fBUbmkmU14vF-Lik7BF4AzJ8OfIvw3Mys6mqyrltWw9Tkfc38XhqE3uWSmd9Zuc9AZ_bVHHB4V_0W00`
Work on #213 - properly categorize all patterns - remove pattern list from readme - minor fixes to readme - removed "introduction" because its not a pattern and an error i committed some time ago 2015-08-20 21:40:07 +02:00			`categories: Creational`
Work on #226, #213, added references of Gang Of Four to all GoF patterns, added tag for Gang Of Four, added difficulty tags to some of them 2015-09-22 18:25:56 +05:30			`tags:`
			`- Java`
			`- Gang Of Four`
Categorize and tag all patterns #213 2015-12-28 15:52:44 +02:00			`- Difficulty-Beginner`
Work towards #56: Splitting up the README I did the job and splitted up the readme, hopefully everything was splitted correctly... 2015-08-13 23:54:40 +02:00			`---`

Use headings instead of bold text in index.md #238 2016-01-03 21:14:30 +01:00			`## Intent`
			`Specify the kinds of objects to create using a prototypical`
Work towards #56: Splitting up the README I did the job and splitted up the readme, hopefully everything was splitted correctly... 2015-08-13 23:54:40 +02:00			`instance, and create new objects by copying this prototype.`

			`![alt text](./etc/prototype_1.png "Prototype")`

Use headings instead of bold text in index.md #238 2016-01-03 21:14:30 +01:00			`## Applicability`
			`Use the Prototype pattern when a system should be independent of how its products are created, composed and represented; and`
Work towards #56: Splitting up the README I did the job and splitted up the readme, hopefully everything was splitted correctly... 2015-08-13 23:54:40 +02:00
			`* when the classes to instantiate are specified at run-time, for example, by dynamic loading; or`
			`* to avoid building a class hierarchy of factories that parallels the class hierarchy of products; or`
			`* when instances of a class can have one of only a few different combinations of state. It may be more convenient to install a corresponding number of prototypes and clone them rather than instantiating the class manually, each time with the appropriate state`

Use headings instead of bold text in index.md #238 2016-01-03 21:14:30 +01:00			`## Real world examples`
Work towards #56: Splitting up the README I did the job and splitted up the readme, hopefully everything was splitted correctly... 2015-08-13 23:54:40 +02:00
Work towards #56: Add permalink to every pattern This makes cleaner URLs thanks to jekyll 2015-08-15 18:03:05 +02:00			`* [java.lang.Object#clone()](http://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/java/lang/Object.html#clone%28%29)`
Work on #226, #213, added references of Gang Of Four to all GoF patterns, added tag for Gang Of Four, added difficulty tags to some of them 2015-09-22 18:25:56 +05:30
Use headings instead of bold text in index.md #238 2016-01-03 21:14:30 +01:00			`## Credits`
Work on #226, #213, added references of Gang Of Four to all GoF patterns, added tag for Gang Of Four, added difficulty tags to some of them 2015-09-22 18:25:56 +05:30
			`* [Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software](http://www.amazon.com/Design-Patterns-Elements-Reusable-Object-Oriented/dp/0201633612)`