What is the factory pattern in Python and how does it compare to other patterns?

What is the factory pattern in Python?

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 does it compare to the singleton pattern?

While the factory pattern focuses on creating multiple instances of objects, the singleton pattern restricts a class to a single instance, ensuring that only one object is created.

Can you give me an example of the factory pattern in Python?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

class Dog:
    def speak(self):
        return "Woof!"

class Cat:
    def speak(self):
        return "Meow!"

class AnimalFactory:
    @staticmethod
    def get_animal(animal_type):
        if animal_type == 'dog':
            return Dog()
        elif animal_type == 'cat':
            return Cat()
        return None

# Usage
animal = AnimalFactory.get_animal('dog')
print(animal.speak())  # Outputs: Woof!

What are some other design patterns I should know about?

Some other important design patterns include the observer pattern, strategy pattern, and decorator pattern. Each serves different purposes in software design.