Analysis

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Evaluate design patterns side by side across intent, tradeoffs, languages, and integration fit.

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Abstract FactoryAdapterBridgeBuilderChain of ResponsibilityCommandCompositeDecoratorFacadeFactory MethodFlyweightInterpreterIteratorMediatorMementoObserverPrototypeProxySingletonStateStrategyTemplate MethodVisitor

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Analysis

Pattern comparison

Reviewing 3 patterns.

Criteria
structuralDecoratorView pattern
behavioralMediatorView pattern
behavioralVisitorView pattern
Basics
Categorystructuralbehavioralbehavioral
SummaryWrap an object with other objects that implement the same contract so responsibilities can be layered dynamically.——
IntentWrap an object with other objects that implement the same contract so responsibilities can be layered dynamically.Define an object that encapsulates communication between a set of objects, keeping them from referring to each other directly.Separate an algorithm from the object structure it operates on by moving behavior into visitor objects.
Decision factors
ProblemA system needs to add optional behaviors to an object without creating many subclasses for every feature combination.Multiple objects need to coordinate behavior, but direct references between them create tight coupling and complex dependencies.You need to perform operations across a set of different object types without stuffing all the logic into the objects themselves.
Tradeoffs
  • Can introduce many small wrapper classes that are harder to trace in debugging.
  • Ordering of decorators matters, so composition needs to be deliberate.
  • Keeps responsibilities modular and easy to combine.
  • The mediator can become large and complex if it takes on too much coordination logic.
  • Centralizing behavior can make the mediator a single point of failure if it is poorly designed.
  • Requires updating the visitor interface when new element types are added
  • Can be awkward if the object structure changes often
Practical fit
Languages
  • typescript
  • java
  • python
  • angular
  • react
  • react-native
  • csharp
  • dotnet
  • typescript
  • java
  • python
  • angular
  • react
  • react-native
  • csharp
  • dotnet
  • typescript
  • java
  • python
  • angular
  • react
  • react-native
  • csharp
  • dotnet
Platforms
  • frontend
  • backend
  • services
  • Web
  • Backend
  • Mobile
  • UI kits
  • Cross-platform systems
  • Web
  • Backend
  • Mobile
  • UI kits
  • Cross-platform systems
Integration notesDecorators work well for cross-cutting concerns such as logging, retry, caching, compression, and telemetry because each layer keeps the same interface while adding one concern.Mediator is useful for chat systems, form coordination, workflow orchestration, and any domain where many components must collaborate without knowing about each other.Visitor is useful for AST processing, reporting, cart calculations, and exporting object structures to alternate formats.