Classic and modern software design patterns
Scanned 9/7/2026
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---
name: design-patterns
description: Classic and modern software design patterns
domain: software-design
version: 1.0.0
tags: [patterns, gang-of-four, creational, structural, behavioral, functional]
triggers:
keywords:
primary: [design pattern, pattern, singleton, factory, observer, strategy]
secondary: [creational, structural, behavioral, gof, gang of four, adapter, decorator]
context_boost: [oop, refactor, architecture, clean code]
context_penalty: [database, devops, testing]
priority: high
---
# Design Patterns
## Overview
Reusable solutions to common software design problems. Understanding patterns helps you communicate design ideas effectively and avoid reinventing the wheel.
---
## Creational Patterns
### Factory Method
**Purpose**: Create objects without specifying exact class
```typescript
// Abstract factory
interface PaymentProcessor {
process(amount: number): Promise<Result>;
}
class StripeProcessor implements PaymentProcessor { /* ... */ }
class PayPalProcessor implements PaymentProcessor { /* ... */ }
function createProcessor(type: string): PaymentProcessor {
switch (type) {
case 'stripe': return new StripeProcessor();
case 'paypal': return new PayPalProcessor();
default: throw new Error(`Unknown processor: ${type}`);
}
}
```
### Builder
**Purpose**: Construct complex objects step by step
```typescript
class QueryBuilder {
private query: Query = {};
select(...fields: string[]) {
this.query.fields = fields;
return this;
}
from(table: string) {
this.query.table = table;
return this;
}
where(condition: Condition) {
this.query.conditions ??= [];
this.query.conditions.push(condition);
return this;
}
build(): string {
return this.compile(this.query);
}
}
// Usage
const sql = new QueryBuilder()
.select('id', 'name')
.from('users')
.where({ age: { gte: 18 } })
.build();
```
### Singleton
**Purpose**: Ensure single instance (use sparingly)
```typescript
// Modern approach: module-level instance
// database.ts
class Database {
private constructor() {}
private static instance: Database;
static getInstance(): Database {
if (!Database.instance) {
Database.instance = new Database();
}
return Database.instance;
}
}
// Better: Dependency injection
class UserService {
constructor(private db: Database) {}
}
```
---
## Structural Patterns
### Adapter
**Purpose**: Make incompatible interfaces work together
```typescript
// Legacy API returns XML
interface LegacyAPI {
getDataXML(): string;
}
// New code expects JSON
interface ModernAPI {
getData(): object;
}
class APIAdapter implements ModernAPI {
constructor(private legacy: LegacyAPI) {}
getData(): object {
const xml = this.legacy.getDataXML();
return this.parseXML(xml);
}
private parseXML(xml: string): object {
// Convert XML to object
}
}
```
### Decorator
**Purpose**: Add behavior without modifying original
```typescript
// Base interface
interface DataSource {
read(): string;
write(data: string): void;
}
// Decorator adds encryption
class EncryptedDataSource implements DataSource {
constructor(private wrapped: DataSource) {}
read(): string {
return this.decrypt(this.wrapped.read());
}
write(data: string): void {
this.wrapped.write(this.encrypt(data));
}
}
// Decorator adds compression
class CompressedDataSource implements DataSource {
constructor(private wrapped: DataSource) {}
// Similar pattern...
}
// Compose decorators
const source = new EncryptedDataSource(
new CompressedDataSource(
new FileDataSource('data.txt')
)
);
```
### Facade
**Purpose**: Simplify complex subsystem
```typescript
// Complex subsystems
class VideoConverter { /* ... */ }
class AudioExtractor { /* ... */ }
class BitrateCalculator { /* ... */ }
class CodecFactory { /* ... */ }
// Simple facade
class VideoExporter {
export(video: Video, format: Format): File {
const codec = CodecFactory.getCodec(format);
const bitrate = BitrateCalculator.optimal(video);
const converter = new VideoConverter(codec, bitrate);
const audio = AudioExtractor.extract(video);
return converter.convert(video, audio);
}
}
// Client only needs facade
const exporter = new VideoExporter();
const mp4 = exporter.export(video, 'mp4');
```
### Proxy
**Purpose**: Control access to object
```typescript
// Virtual proxy for lazy loading
class ImageProxy implements Image {
private realImage: RealImage | null = null;
constructor(private filename: string) {}
display(): void {
if (!this.realImage) {
this.realImage = new RealImage(this.filename); // Expensive
}
this.realImage.display();
}
}
// Protection proxy
class SecureDocumentProxy implements Document {
constructor(
private doc: Document,
private user: User
) {}
read(): string {
if (!this.user.hasPermission('read')) {
throw new Error('Access denied');
}
return this.doc.read();
}
}
```
---
## Behavioral Patterns
### Observer
**Purpose**: Notify dependents of state changes
```typescript
class EventEmitter<T extends Record<string, unknown>> {
private listeners = new Map<keyof T, Set<Function>>();
on<K extends keyof T>(event: K, callback: (data: T[K]) => void) {
if (!this.listeners.has(event)) {
this.listeners.set(event, new Set());
}
this.listeners.get(event)!.add(callback);
// Return unsubscribe function
return () => this.listeners.get(event)?.delete(callback);
}
emit<K extends keyof T>(event: K, data: T[K]) {
this.listeners.get(event)?.forEach(cb => cb(data));
}
}
// Usage
interface Events {
userCreated: User;
orderPlaced: Order;
}
const emitter = new EventEmitter<Events>();
emitter.on('userCreated', user => sendWelcomeEmail(user));
```
### Strategy
**Purpose**: Interchange algorithms at runtime
```typescript
interface CompressionStrategy {
compress(data: Buffer): Buffer;
}
class ZipCompression implements CompressionStrategy {
compress(data: Buffer): Buffer { /* ... */ }
}
class GzipCompression implements CompressionStrategy {
compress(data: Buffer): Buffer { /* ... */ }
}
class FileCompressor {
constructor(private strategy: CompressionStrategy) {}
setStrategy(strategy: CompressionStrategy) {
this.strategy = strategy;
}
compress(file: File): Buffer {
return this.strategy.compress(file.data);
}
}
```
### Command
**Purpose**: Encapsulate actions as objects
```typescript
interface Command {
execute(): void;
undo(): void;
}
class MoveCommand implements Command {
private previousPosition: Position;
constructor(
private object: GameObject,
private newPosition: Position
) {}
execute() {
this.previousPosition = this.object.position;
this.object.position = this.newPosition;
}
undo() {
this.object.position = this.previousPosition;
}
}
class CommandHistory {
private history: Command[] = [];
private current = -1;
execute(command: Command) {
command.execute();
this.history = this.history.slice(0, this.current + 1);
this.history.push(command);
this.current++;
}
undo() {
if (this.current >= 0) {
this.history[this.current].undo();
this.current--;
}
}
redo() {
if (this.current < this.history.length - 1) {
this.current++;
this.history[this.current].execute();
}
}
}
```
### State
**Purpose**: Change behavior based on state
```typescript
interface State {
handle(context: Context): void;
}
class DraftState implements State {
handle(context: Context) {
console.log('Document is draft');
// Can edit, save, submit for review
}
}
class ReviewState implements State {
handle(context: Context) {
console.log('Document under review');
// Can approve or reject
}
}
class PublishedState implements State {
handle(context: Context) {
console.log('Document is published');
// Read-only, can unpublish
}
}
class Document {
private state: State = new DraftState();
setState(state: State) {
this.state = state;
}
handle() {
this.state.handle(this);
}
}
```
---
## Functional Patterns
### Monad (Result/Option)
```typescript
type Result<T, E> = { ok: true; value: T } | { ok: false; error: E };
function map<T, U, E>(
result: Result<T, E>,
fn: (value: T) => U
): Result<U, E> {
return result.ok
? { ok: true, value: fn(result.value) }
: result;
}
function flatMap<T, U, E>(
result: Result<T, E>,
fn: (value: T) => Result<U, E>
): Result<U, E> {
return result.ok ? fn(result.value) : result;
}
// Usage - compose operations safely
const result = pipe(
parseJSON(input),
flatMap(validate),
flatMap(save),
map(formatResponse)
);
```
### Pipeline / Middleware
```typescript
type Middleware<T> = (context: T, next: () => Promise<void>) => Promise<void>;
class Pipeline<T> {
private middlewares: Middleware<T>[] = [];
use(middleware: Middleware<T>) {
this.middlewares.push(middleware);
return this;
}
async execute(context: T) {
let index = 0;
const next = async (): Promise<void> => {
if (index < this.middlewares.length) {
const middleware = this.middlewares[index++];
await middleware(context, next);
}
};
await next();
}
}
```
---
## Anti-Patterns to Avoid
| Anti-Pattern | Problem | Solution |
|--------------|---------|----------|
| God Object | One class does everything | Split into focused classes |
| Spaghetti Code | Tangled dependencies | Apply SRP, use modules |
| Golden Hammer | Using one pattern everywhere | Choose right pattern per problem |
| Premature Optimization | Optimizing before measuring | Profile first, then optimize |
---
## Decision Guide
```
Need to create objects?
├── Complex construction → Builder
├── Family of related objects → Abstract Factory
├── Subclass decides type → Factory Method
└── Single instance → Singleton (rarely)
Need to structure objects?
├── Make incompatible interfaces work → Adapter
├── Add behavior dynamically → Decorator
├── Simplify complex system → Facade
└── Control access → Proxy
Need to manage behavior?
├── Notify on state change → Observer
├── Swap algorithms → Strategy
├── Encapsulate actions → Command
└── State-dependent behavior → State
```
## Related Skills
- [[architecture-patterns]] - Higher-level patterns
- [[code-quality]] - When to apply patterns
- [[refactoring]] - Introducing patterns to existing code
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