What is the factory pattern and how is it implemented in different programming languages?

Can you explain the factory pattern and its purpose?

The factory pattern is a creational design pattern that provides an interface for creating objects in a superclass, but allows subclasses to alter the type of objects that will be created.

How is the factory pattern implemented in Python?

In Python, you can create a factory function that returns different classes based on input parameters. For example, you might have a function that returns different shapes based on a string input.

What about in Java? How does it differ?

In Java, the factory pattern is often implemented using interfaces and abstract classes. You define a factory interface with a method for creating objects, and then implement this interface in concrete factory classes.

Can you give an example of the factory pattern in JavaScript?

Sure! In JavaScript, you can use a function to return different objects based on input. For instance, a function that creates different types of vehicles based on a string argument.