What is the Observer Pattern in software design?

What is the Observer Pattern in software design?

The Observer Pattern is a behavioral design pattern that defines a one-to-many dependency between objects. When one object changes state, all its dependents are notified and updated automatically.

Can you give me an example of how it works?

Sure! Imagine a weather station (the subject) that updates temperature data. Multiple displays (observers) show this data. When the weather station updates the temperature, all displays automatically refresh to show the new temperature.

What are the benefits of using the Observer Pattern?

The benefits include loose coupling between the subject and observers, easier maintenance, and the ability to add or remove observers dynamically without modifying the subject.

Are there any drawbacks to this pattern?

Yes, potential drawbacks include memory leaks if observers are not properly removed and the complexity of managing multiple observers.