Analysis

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Abstract FactoryAdapterBridgeBuilderChain of ResponsibilityCommandCompositeDecoratorFacadeFactory MethodFlyweightInterpreterIteratorMediatorMementoObserverPrototypeProxySingletonStateStrategyTemplate MethodVisitor

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Analysis

Pattern comparison

Reviewing 3 patterns.

Criteria
structuralCompositeView pattern
behavioralMediatorView pattern
behavioralStrategyView pattern
Basics
Categorystructuralbehavioralbehavioral
SummaryCompose objects into tree structures to represent part-whole hierarchies and let clients work with individual and composite objects through the same interface.——
IntentCompose objects into tree structures to represent part-whole hierarchies and let clients work with individual and composite objects through the same interface.Define an object that encapsulates communication between a set of objects, keeping them from referring to each other directly.Encapsulate a family of algorithms or behaviors behind a common contract so they can be selected and swapped cleanly.
Decision factors
ProblemA system needs to treat individual objects and groups of objects uniformly, but the hierarchy becomes difficult to manage with separate code paths.Multiple objects need to coordinate behavior, but direct references between them create tight coupling and complex dependencies.A system needs to switch between interchangeable behaviors without hardcoding branching logic everywhere.
Tradeoffs
  • Can make the design more abstract and harder to follow.
  • May require careful handling of operations that only apply to some nodes in the tree.
  • Makes recursive tree operations and client code much simpler.
  • 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.
  • Adds more moving parts than a direct conditional approach
  • Works best when behavior variations are real and likely to grow
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
  • Services
Integration notesComposite is useful when a hierarchy of nested objects should expose a common interface, such as files and folders, menus and submenus, org charts, widget trees, or scene graphs.Mediator is useful for chat systems, form coordination, workflow orchestration, and any domain where many components must collaborate without knowing about each other.Strategies can cross codebases through shared contracts, API selection rules, or runtime configuration.