Prototype Pattern
Intent
Specify the kinds of objects to create using a prototypical instance, and create new objects by copying this prototype instead of depending on the new operator.
When to use
When the object instantiation from the beginning takes a lot of time.
When we want to specify an instance of the class to use it as a breeder of all future instances.
To avoid building a class hierarchy (seperate classes or factories) that parallels the class hierarchy of the products.
If we want to instantiate the same class with a minimal change of state, it's more appropriate to clone the instance and change its state to the required state.
Structure
Prototype: defines the interface for cloning
ConcretePrototype: implements the operation for cloning itself.
Client: creates a new object by asking a prototype to clone itself.
Registry: optional class that saves the frequently used prototypes, either before compilation, or even in runtime.
Examples
You can find the tests here.
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