What are the differences between Factory and Abstract Factory patterns?

What are the differences between Factory and Abstract Factory patterns?

The Factory pattern creates objects without specifying the exact class of object that will be created, while the Abstract Factory pattern provides an interface for creating families of related or dependent objects without specifying their concrete classes.

Can you give me an example of each pattern?

Sure! In the Factory pattern, you might have a CarFactory that creates different types of cars like Sedan or SUV. In the Abstract Factory pattern, you could have a VehicleFactory that creates both Car and Bike families, where each family has its own set of types.

When should I use one over the other?

Use the Factory pattern when you need to create a single type of object, and use the Abstract Factory pattern when you need to create multiple related objects.

Are there any performance differences between the two?

Generally, the performance difference is negligible, but the Abstract Factory pattern may introduce a bit more complexity due to its structure.