layout, title, folder, permalink, pumlid, categories, tags
| layout | title | folder | permalink | pumlid | categories | tags | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pattern | Decorator | decorator | /patterns/decorator/ | HSV14SCm20J0Lk82BFxf1YF6LaP26ZZizfDVVhjRC-bPDRs_Bc35cyZvAMV3bKU6kao36ehCGQtdms2d3z-yLursshuOKBUWmV43LPNfZEcaaFzA-YWhH_y2 | Structural |
|
Also known as
Wrapper
Intent
Attach additional responsibilities to an object dynamically. Decorators provide a flexible alternative to subclassing for extending functionality.
Applicability
Use Decorator
- to add responsibilities to individual objects dynamically and transparently, that is, without affecting other objects
- for responsibilities that can be withdrawn
- when extension by subclassing is impractical. Sometimes a large number of independent extensions are possible and would produce an explosion of subclasses to support every combination. Or a class definition may be hidden or otherwise unavailable for subclassing
Real world examples
- java.io.InputStream, java.io.OutputStream, java.io.Reader and java.io.Writer
- java.util.Collections#synchronizedXXX()
- java.util.Collections#unmodifiableXXX()
- java.util.Collections#checkedXXX()