What are the differences between Factory Method and Abstract Factory?

What are the differences between Factory Method and Abstract Factory?

The Factory Method and Abstract Factory are both creational design patterns, but they serve different purposes. The Factory Method allows a class to delegate the instantiation of objects to subclasses, while the Abstract Factory provides an interface for creating families of related or dependent objects without specifying their concrete classes.

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! In the Factory Method, you might have a Shape class with a method createShape(), and subclasses like Circle and Square that implement this method. In the Abstract Factory, you could have a GUIFactory interface with methods like createButton() and createCheckbox(), and concrete factories like WindowsFactory and MacFactory that implement these methods.

When should I use one over the other?

Use the Factory Method when you want to allow subclasses to alter the type of objects that will be created. Use the Abstract Factory when you need to create families of related objects and want to ensure that the client code remains independent of the concrete classes.

Are there any drawbacks to using these patterns?

Yes, both patterns can introduce complexity. The Factory Method can lead to a proliferation of subclasses, while the Abstract Factory can make the code harder to understand due to the multiple layers of abstraction.