DESIGN PATTERN
| Type : | Cr (Creational) |
| Intent : | Specify the kinds of objects to create using a prototypical instance, and create new objects by copying this prototype. |
| Applicability : | Use the Prototype pattern when a system should be independent of how its products are created, composed, and represented; and : - when the classes to instantiate are specified at run-time, for example, by dynamic loading; or - to avoid building a class hierarchy of factories that parallels the class hierarchy of products; or - when instances of a class can have one of only a few different combinations of state. It may be more convenient to install a corresponding number of prototypes and clone them rather than instantiating the class manually, each time with the appropriate state. |