Prototype Pattern

Definitions

1. A creational design pattern where new objects are created by cloning an existing prototype instance rather than constructing from scratch, which is useful when object creation is expensive or when the exact class to instantiate is determined at runtime. The prototype provides a clone() method that performs a deep or shallow copy.

   In plain English: Creating new objects by copying an existing one instead of building from scratch, like using a photocopy of a filled-out form as a starting point.

   Example: "We use the prototype pattern for game entities — cloning a fully configured orc template is way cheaper than re-parsing the config each time."

Related Terms

• Mediator Pattern
• Null Object Pattern
• Object Graph
• Open-Closed Principle
• Proxy Pattern
• Software Design
• State Pattern
• Structural Pattern
• Template Method Pattern
• Utility Class
• Value Object
• Visitor Pattern