Flyweight Design Pattern


 definition
 UML diagram
 participants
 sample code in C#


definition

Use sharing to support large numbers of fine-grained objects efficiently.

Frequency of use:   low

UML class diagram

participants

    The classes and/or objects participating in this pattern are:

  • Flyweight   (Character)
    • declares an interface through which flyweights can receive and act on extrinsic state.
  • ConcreteFlyweight   (CharacterA, CharacterB, ..., CharacterZ)
    • implements the Flyweight interface and adds storage for intrinsic state, if any. A ConcreteFlyweight object must be sharable. Any state it stores must be intrinsic, that is, it must be independent of the ConcreteFlyweight object's context.
  • UnsharedConcreteFlyweight   ( not used )
    • not all Flyweight subclasses need to be shared. The Flyweight interface enables sharing, but it doesn't enforce it. It is common for UnsharedConcreteFlyweight objects to have ConcreteFlyweight objects as children at some level in the flyweight object structure (as the Row and Column classes have).
  • FlyweightFactory   (CharacterFactory)
    • creates and manages flyweight objects
    • ensures that flyweight are shared properly. When a client requests a flyweight, the FlyweightFactory objects supplies an existing instance or creates one, if none exists.
  • Client   (FlyweightApp)
    • maintains a reference to flyweight(s).
    • computes or stores the extrinsic state of flyweight(s).

sample code in C#

This structural code demonstrates the Flyweight pattern in which a relatively small number of objects is shared many times by different clients.

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// Flyweight pattern -- Structural example




This real-world code demonstrates the Flyweight pattern in which a relatively small number of Character objects is shared many times by a document that has potentially many characters.

Show code

// Flyweight pattern -- Real World example




This .NET optimized code demonstrates the same real-world situation as above but uses modern, built-in .NET features, such as, generics, reflection, object initializers, automatic properties, etc.

Show code

// Flyweight pattern -- .NET optimized




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Design Pattern
Framework 3.5
TM


C# and VB.NET



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