Table of Contents
Template means Preset format like HTML templates which has fixed preset format.Similarly in template method pattern,we have a preset structure method called template method which consists of steps.This steps can be abstract method which will be implemented by its subclasses.
So in short you can say,In template method pattern,there is template method which defines set of steps and implementation of steps can be deferred to subclasses.Thus template method defines algorithm but exact steps can be defined in subclasses.
When to use it:
- When you have a preset format or steps for algorithm but implementation of steps may vary.
- When you want to avoid code duplication,implementing common code in base class and variation in subclass.
Structure:
So in above diagram,as you can see we have defined template method with three steps i.e. operation1,operation2 and operation3.Among them,opeation1 and operation2 are abstract steps,so these are implemented by ConcreteClass.We have implemented operation3 here.You can implement an operation in base class in two scenario first is if it is common to all and second is if it is default implementation of that method.
UML diagram will be much clearer now.
Components:
- It defines template method defining the structure of algorithm.
- It also defines abstract operations that will be implemented by subclasses to define steps of algorithm.
ConcreteClass
- It implements abstract operation of super class to carry out subclass specific steps of the algorithm and also overrides operation if default behavior is not required
Important points about template method pattern:
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Template method in super class follows “the Hollywood principle”: “Don’t call us, we’ll call you”. This refers to the fact that instead of calling the methods from base class in the subclasses, the methods from subclass are called in the template method from superclass.
- Template method in super class should not be overriden so make it final
- Customization hooks:Methods containing a default implementation that may be overidden in other classes are called hooks methods. Hook methods are intended to be overridden, concrete methods are not.So in this pattern,we can provide hooks methods.The problem is sometimes it becomes very hard to differentiate between hook methods and concrete methods.
- Template methods are technique for code reuse because with this,you can figure out common behavior and defer specific behavior to subclasses.
Example:
Lets take example.When you have to read from two data source i.e CSV and database then you have to process that data and generate output as CSV files.Here three steps are involved.
- Read data from correspoding data source
- Process data
- Write output to CSV files
Java code:
1.DataParser.java
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package org.arpit.javapostsforlearning; abstract public class DataParser { //Template method //This method defines a generic structure for parsing data public void parseDataAndGenerateOutput() { readData(); processData(); writeData(); } //This methods will be implemented by its subclass abstract void readData(); abstract void processData(); //We have to write output in a CSV file so this step will be same for all subclasses public void writeData() { System.out.println("Output generated,writing to CSV"); } } |
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package org.arpit.javapostsforlearning; public class CSVDataParser extends DataParser { void readData() { System.out.println("Reading data from csv file"); } void processData() { System.out.println("Looping through loaded csv file"); } } |
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package org.arpit.javapostsforlearning; public class DatabaseDataParser extends DataParser { void readData() { System.out.println("Reading data from database"); } void processData() { System.out.println("Looping through datasets"); } } |
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package org.arpit.javapostsforlearning; public class TemplateMethodMain { /** * @author arpit mandliya */ public static void main(String[] args) { CSVDataParser csvDataParser=new CSVDataParser(); csvDataParser.parseDataAndGenerateOutput(); System.out.println("**********************"); DatabaseDataParser databaseDataParser=new DatabaseDataParser(); databaseDataParser.parseDataAndGenerateOutput(); } } |
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Reading data from csv file Looping through loaded csv file Output generated,writing to CSV ********************** Reading data from database Looping through datasets Output generated,writing to CSV |
Used in java API:
- All non-abstract methods of
java.io.InputStream,java.io.OutputStream,java.io.Readerandjava.io.Writer. - All non-abstract methods of
java.util.AbstractList,java.util.AbstractSetandjava.util.AbstractMap. javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet, all thedoXXX()methods by default sends a HTTP 405 “Method Not Allowed” error to the response. You’re free to implement none or any of them.
