Learn the Interpreter design pattern in Java by building a working math expression evaluator. Understand abstract syntax trees, terminal vs. non-terminal expressions, and where this pattern appears in SQL engines, regex, and Spring SpEL.
Complete reference for all 23 Gang of Four design patterns implemented in Java 17. Each pattern has a dedicated post with beginner-to-advanced coverage, full runnable code, UML diagram, and console output. Creational, Structural, and Behavioral patterns with real-world examples and JDK cross-references.
The Visitor pattern lets you add new operations to a class hierarchy without modifying it. Each operation is a separate Visitor class; elements accept visitors via double dispatch. Complete Java guide: shape hierarchy with AreaCalculator and PerimeterCalculator visitors, double dispatch explained, when Visitor beats a switch statement, and when it's overkill.
The Template Method pattern defines the skeleton of an algorithm in a base class and lets subclasses fill in the steps — without changing the overall structure. Complete Java guide: data migration pipeline with invariant skeleton, overridable hooks, and the Hollywood Principle. Includes comparison with Strategy and when to use each.
The Strategy pattern defines a family of algorithms, encapsulates each one, and makes them interchangeable at runtime. No more switch statements for algorithm selection. Complete Java guide: sorting strategy with BubbleSort/MergeSort/QuickSort, runtime selection, Java 8 functional shortcut with Comparator, and when Strategy is overkill.
The State pattern lets an object change its behaviour when its internal state changes — as if the object changed its class. Eliminate sprawling if-else state machines. Complete Java guide: traffic light example, state-driven transitions, how State differs from Strategy, vending machine walkthrough, and when to use enums vs State objects.
The Observer pattern defines a one-to-many dependency: when one object changes state, all dependents are notified automatically. Complete Java guide: stock price alert system, dynamic subscribe/unsubscribe, push vs pull notification models, java.util.Observable pitfalls, PropertyChangeListener, reactive extensions, and thread-safety considerations.
The Memento pattern captures an object's internal state in a snapshot and restores it later — without violating encapsulation. Complete Java guide: text editor undo with multi-field state, the Originator/Memento/Caretaker triad, how to keep mementos opaque, serialization as Memento, and bounded undo history management.
The Mediator pattern replaces a web of N² direct object references with N connections through a central coordinator. Complete Java guide: chat room example, O(N²) vs O(N) dependency analysis, MVC as a Mediator, Spring's ApplicationEventPublisher, and how Mediator differs from Observer and Facade.
The Iterator pattern provides a uniform way to traverse a collection without exposing its internal structure. Complete Java guide: custom BookShelf iterator, filtered decade iterator, how Java's for-each loop works under the hood, Iterable vs Iterator, and when to write a custom iterator vs using Streams.