Analysis

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Analysis

Pattern comparison

Reviewing 3 patterns.

Criteria
behavioralIteratorView pattern
behavioralMediatorView pattern
behavioralObserverView pattern
Basics
Categorybehavioralbehavioralbehavioral
Summary———
IntentProvide a way to access elements of an aggregate sequentially while hiding the underlying representation.Define an object that encapsulates communication between a set of objects, keeping them from referring to each other directly.Define a subscription mechanism so multiple observers can react to subject events without the subject knowing concrete subscriber details.
Decision factors
ProblemA collection needs to be traversed without exposing how it is stored internally.Multiple objects need to coordinate behavior, but direct references between them create tight coupling and complex dependencies.A system needs to notify multiple dependent objects when state changes occur, but hardcoding those dependencies makes the design rigid and tightly coupled.
Tradeoffs
  • Can add extra classes and abstraction for simple collections
  • May be unnecessary when built-in language iteration is already enough
  • 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.
  • 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
  • typescript
  • java
  • python
  • angular
  • react
  • react-native
  • csharp
  • dotnet
  • typescript
  • java
  • python
  • angular
  • react
  • react-native
  • csharp
  • dotnet
Platforms
  • Web
  • Backend
  • Mobile
  • UI kits
  • Cross-platform systems
  • Web
  • Backend
  • Mobile
  • UI kits
  • Cross-platform systems
  • Web
  • Backend
  • Event-driven systems
Integration notesIterator is useful for pagination, custom collections, ordered traversal, and any case where clients should not know the internal data structure.Mediator is useful for chat systems, form coordination, workflow orchestration, and any domain where many components must collaborate without knowing about each other.Observers work well inside a single application boundary for UI events, domain events, and in-process notifications where subscribers change dynamically.