Factory Method Pattern

Kind: pattern

Layer: Design Patterns Core

Aliases: Virtual Constructor

Record: architecture:factory-method-pattern

Severity: contextual

Scope: class hierarchy, framework

Canonical: Ontology

A design pattern in which a base class calls an overridable method to create the objects its workflow uses.

Listed in Architecture principles, after Factory Pattern and before Abstract Factory Pattern.

Requires

• Subclass-Controlled Creation

Reinforces

• Open/Closed Principle (OCP)

Enables

• Deferred Instantiation

Conflicts with

• Concrete Constructor Coupling

In tension with

• Inheritance Complexity

Tensions

• Factory Method Pattern / Inheritance Complexity

Violated by

• Concrete Constructor Coupling

Severity

• contextual

Category

• Creational Patterns

Linked from

• SOLID / Object-Oriented Design
• Creational Patterns
• Severity levels
• The resolutions