Template Design Pattern or Template Method is the behavioral design pattern that defines the skeleton of an algorithm in the superclass but lets subclasses overrid specific steps of the algorithm without changing its structure.
This pattern falls under the category of the "behavioral" design patterns as it is concerned with how classes collaborate and communicate with other classes.
Important Topics for Template Method Design Pattern in Java
Key Component of Template Method Design Pattern
Example of Template Method Design Patter in Java
Advantages of Template Method Design Pattern in Java
Disadvantages of Template Method Design Pattern in Java
Key Component of Template Method Design Pattern
In java, the Template Method pattern is implemented using abstract classes.
Abstract Class
Define an abstract class that declares the template method. The template method typically consists of a series of method calls and control flow statements.
The template method defines the algorithm's stracture but leaves some steps to be implemented by concrete subclasses.
Concrete Classes
Create concrete subclasses that extend the abstract class .
Implement the abstract methods declared in the abstract class to provide specific behavior for each step of algorithm.
Template Method Invocation
Clients use the template method to execute the algorithm. The template method ensures that the steps are executed in the correct order, and some steps may be overridden by subclasses.
Hooks
Hooks are methods in the superclass that have a default (empty or no-op) implementation but can be optionally overridden by subclasses.
They allow subclasses to "hook into" the algorithm at certain points, influencing its behavior.
So this Pattern provides a way to define the skeleton of an algorithm in the superclass of an algorithm in the superclass while allowing subclasses to provide specific implementations for certain steps. This promotes code reuse and ensures that the overall algorithm structure remains consistent across different implementations.
