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C# Strategy

The Strategy design pattern defines a family of algorithms, encapsulate each one, and make them interchangeable. This pattern lets the algorithm vary independently from clients that use it.

Frequency of use:
high
C# Design Patterns

UML class diagram

A visualization of the classes and objects participating in this pattern.


Participants

The classes and objects participating in this pattern include:

  • Strategy  (SortStrategy)
    • declares an interface common to all supported algorithms. Context uses this interface to call the algorithm defined by a ConcreteStrategy
  • ConcreteStrategy  (QuickSort, ShellSort, MergeSort)
    • implements the algorithm using the Strategy interface
  • Context  (SortedList)
    • is configured with a ConcreteStrategy object
    • maintains a reference to a Strategy object
    • may define an interface that lets Strategy access its data.

Structural code in C#

This structural code demonstrates the Strategy pattern which encapsulates functionality in the form of an object. This allows clients to dynamically change algorithmic strategies.

using System;

namespace Strategy.Structural
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Strategy Design Pattern
    /// </summary>

    public class Program
    {
        public static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            Context context;

            // Three contexts following different strategies

            context = new Context(new ConcreteStrategyA());
            context.ContextInterface();

            context = new Context(new ConcreteStrategyB());
            context.ContextInterface();

            context = new Context(new ConcreteStrategyC());
            context.ContextInterface();

            // Wait for user

            Console.ReadKey();
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// The 'Strategy' abstract class
    /// </summary>

    public abstract class Strategy
    {
        public abstract void AlgorithmInterface();
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// A 'ConcreteStrategy' class
    /// </summary>

    public class ConcreteStrategyA : Strategy
    {
        public override void AlgorithmInterface()
        {
            Console.WriteLine(
                "Called ConcreteStrategyA.AlgorithmInterface()");
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// A 'ConcreteStrategy' class
    /// </summary>

    public class ConcreteStrategyB : Strategy
    {
        public override void AlgorithmInterface()
        {
            Console.WriteLine(
                "Called ConcreteStrategyB.AlgorithmInterface()");
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// A 'ConcreteStrategy' class
    /// </summary>

    public class ConcreteStrategyC : Strategy
    {
        public override void AlgorithmInterface()
        {
            Console.WriteLine(
                "Called ConcreteStrategyC.AlgorithmInterface()");
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// The 'Context' class
    /// </summary>

    public class Context
    {
        Strategy strategy;

        // Constructor

        public Context(Strategy strategy)
        {
            this.strategy = strategy;
        }

        public void ContextInterface()
        {
            strategy.AlgorithmInterface();
        }
    }
}
Output
Called ConcreteStrategyA.AlgorithmInterface()
Called ConcreteStrategyB.AlgorithmInterface()
Called ConcreteStrategyC.AlgorithmInterface()

Real-world code in C#

This real-world code ddemonstrates the Strategy pattern which encapsulates sorting algorithms in the form of sorting objects. This allows clients to dynamically change sorting strategies including Quicksort, Shellsort, and Mergesort.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

namespace Strategy.RealWorld
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Strategy Design Pattern
    /// </summary>

    public class Program
    {
        public static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            // Two contexts following different strategies

            SortedList studentRecords = new SortedList();

            studentRecords.Add("Samual");
            studentRecords.Add("Jimmy");
            studentRecords.Add("Sandra");
            studentRecords.Add("Vivek");
            studentRecords.Add("Anna");

            studentRecords.SetSortStrategy(new QuickSort());
            studentRecords.Sort();

            studentRecords.SetSortStrategy(new ShellSort());
            studentRecords.Sort();

            studentRecords.SetSortStrategy(new MergeSort());
            studentRecords.Sort();

            // Wait for user

            Console.ReadKey();
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// The 'Strategy' abstract class
    /// </summary>

    public abstract class SortStrategy
    {
        public abstract void Sort(List<string> list);
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// A 'ConcreteStrategy' class
    /// </summary>

    public class QuickSort : SortStrategy
    {
        public override void Sort(List<string> list)
        {
            list.Sort();  // Default is Quicksort
            Console.WriteLine("QuickSorted list ");
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// A 'ConcreteStrategy' class
    /// </summary>

    public class ShellSort : SortStrategy
    {
        public override void Sort(List<string> list)
        {
            //list.ShellSort();  not-implemented
            Console.WriteLine("ShellSorted list ");
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// A 'ConcreteStrategy' class
    /// </summary>

    public class MergeSort : SortStrategy
    {
        public override void Sort(List<string> list)
        {
            //list.MergeSort(); not-implemented

            Console.WriteLine("MergeSorted list ");
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// The 'Context' class
    /// </summary>

    public class SortedList
    {
        private List<string> list = new List<string>();
        private SortStrategy sortstrategy;

        public void SetSortStrategy(SortStrategy sortstrategy)
        {
            this.sortstrategy = sortstrategy;
        }

        public void Add(string name)
        {
            list.Add(name);
        }

        public void Sort()
        {
            sortstrategy.Sort(list);

            // Iterate over list and display results

            foreach (string name in list)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(" " + name);
            }
            Console.WriteLine();
        }
    }
}
Output
QuickSorted list
 Anna
 Jimmy
 Samual
 Sandra
 Vivek

ShellSorted list
 Anna
 Jimmy
 Samual
 Sandra
 Vivek

MergeSorted list
 Anna
 Jimmy
 Samual
 Sandra
 Vivek

.NET Optimized code in C#

The .NET optimized code demonstrates the same real-world situation as above but uses modern, built-in .NET features, such as, generics, reflection, LINQ, lambda functions, etc. You can find an example on our Singleton pattern page.

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