What are the differences between the Composite and Factory design patterns?

What are the differences between the Composite and Factory design patterns?

The Composite pattern allows you to compose objects into tree structures to represent part-whole hierarchies. The Factory pattern, on the other hand, is used to create objects without specifying the exact class of object that will be created.

Can you give me an example of each pattern?

Sure! For the Composite pattern, think of a graphic design application where shapes can be grouped together. For the Factory pattern, consider a car manufacturing system where different types of cars are created based on user input.

When should I use one pattern over the other?

Use the Composite pattern when you need to treat individual objects and compositions uniformly. Use the Factory pattern when you want to encapsulate the instantiation logic and promote loose coupling.

Are there any scenarios where both patterns could be used together?

Yes, you can use both patterns together. For instance, a graphic application could use a Factory to create different shapes and a Composite to manage groups of those shapes.