Analysis

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Analysis

Pattern comparison

Reviewing 3 patterns.

Criteria
structuralBridgeView pattern
behavioralIteratorView pattern
behavioralObserverView pattern
Basics
Categorystructuralbehavioralbehavioral
SummarySeparate an abstraction from its implementation so the two can vary independently.——
IntentDecouple abstractions from implementations so they can evolve independently.Provide a way to access elements of an aggregate sequentially while hiding the underlying representation.Define a subscription mechanism so multiple observers can react to subject events without the subject knowing concrete subscriber details.
Decision factors
ProblemWhen an abstraction is tightly coupled to its implementation, changing one side forces changes in the other and makes the system harder to evolve.A collection needs to be traversed without exposing how it is stored internally.A system needs to notify multiple dependent objects when state changes occur, but hardcoding those dependencies makes the design rigid and tightly coupled.
Tradeoffs
  • Adds an extra layer of indirection.
  • Can increase the number of moving parts.
  • Makes abstractions and implementations easier to evolve independently.
  • Can add extra classes and abstraction for simple collections
  • May be unnecessary when built-in language iteration is already enough
  • Notification flows can become hard to trace when many observers react to the same event
  • Observers may receive updates they do not need unless subscriptions are carefully designed
Practical fit
Languages
  • typescript
  • java
  • python
  • angular
  • react
  • react-native
  • csharp
  • dotnet
  • go
  • typescript
  • java
  • python
  • angular
  • react
  • react-native
  • csharp
  • dotnet
  • typescript
  • java
  • python
  • angular
  • react
  • react-native
  • csharp
  • dotnet
Platforms
  • web
  • backend
  • mobile
  • integration
  • ui
  • Web
  • Backend
  • Mobile
  • UI kits
  • Cross-platform systems
  • Web
  • Backend
  • Event-driven systems
Integration notesBridge is useful when you want one stable abstraction while swapping implementations for providers, environments, or device targets.Iterator is useful for pagination, custom collections, ordered traversal, and any case where clients should not know the internal data structure.Observers work well inside a single application boundary for UI events, domain events, and in-process notifications where subscribers change dynamically.