What are the different variations of the factory pattern in programming?

What are the different variations of the factory pattern in programming?

The factory pattern is a creational design pattern that provides an interface for creating objects. Variations include the Simple Factory, Factory Method, and Abstract Factory.

Can you explain the Simple Factory pattern?

Sure! The Simple Factory pattern defines a method for creating objects without specifying the exact class of object that will be created. It typically uses a single method to return different types of objects based on input parameters.

How does the Factory Method differ from the Simple Factory?

The Factory Method pattern allows subclasses to alter the type of objects that will be created. Unlike the Simple Factory, it defines an interface for creating an object but lets subclasses decide which class to instantiate.

What about the Abstract Factory pattern?

The Abstract Factory pattern provides an interface for creating families of related or dependent objects without specifying their concrete classes. It’s useful when you need to create multiple types of objects that belong to a common theme.