Analysis

Compare patterns

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

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Analysis

Pattern comparison

Reviewing 3 patterns.

Criteria
behavioralChain of ResponsibilityView pattern
structuralFlyweightView pattern
behavioralMediatorView pattern
Basics
Categorybehavioralstructuralbehavioral
SummaryPass a request through a sequence of handlers until one handles it or the chain ends.——
IntentPass requests along a chain of handlers until one of them handles the request or the request reaches the end of the chain.Use sharing to support large numbers of fine-grained objects efficiently by separating shared intrinsic state from per-object extrinsic state.Define an object that encapsulates communication between a set of objects, keeping them from referring to each other directly.
Decision factors
ProblemA request must pass through multiple possible handlers, but the sender should not need to know which handler will process it.A system creates a large number of similar objects, but storing all of their state separately uses too much memory.Multiple objects need to coordinate behavior, but direct references between them create tight coupling and complex dependencies.
Tradeoffs
  • Requests can become harder to trace because control flows through multiple handlers.
  • A long chain may add overhead if many handlers are checked on every request.
  • It keeps handler logic isolated and easier to extend.
  • Adds complexity because state must be split into shared and unshared parts
  • Can be harder to understand when many objects depend on an external context
  • 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.
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
  • integration
  • Web
  • Backend
  • Mobile
  • UI kits
  • Cross-platform systems
  • Web
  • Backend
  • Mobile
  • UI kits
  • Cross-platform systems
Integration notesChain of Responsibility is useful for validation pipelines, support routing, approval flows, and any system where requests may be processed by different handlers in sequence.Flyweight is useful when thousands or millions of similar objects need to be represented efficiently, such as trees, glyphs, tiles, or UI tokens.Mediator is useful for chat systems, form coordination, workflow orchestration, and any domain where many components must collaborate without knowing about each other.