What are the best practices for implementing the Factory Pattern?

What are the best practices for implementing the Factory Pattern?

The Factory Pattern is a creational design pattern that provides an interface for creating objects. Best practices include: 1. Use a Factory Method to encapsulate object creation. 2. Keep the Factory class separate from the product classes. 3. Favor composition over inheritance. 4. Ensure the Factory can be extended easily.

Can you give an example of how to use the Factory Pattern?

Sure! For instance, if you have a Vehicle interface, you can create a VehicleFactory that produces different types of vehicles like Car or Truck based on input parameters.

What are the advantages of using the Factory Pattern?

The advantages include improved code maintainability, easier testing, and the ability to introduce new products without modifying existing code.

Are there any common pitfalls to avoid?

Yes, common pitfalls include overcomplicating the Factory, not adhering to the Single Responsibility Principle, and failing to document the Factory's usage.