Abstract Factory

Also called a kit.

Problem

A client uses a collection of related products or components, but can't anticipate how the products will be implemented.

Solution

Structure

Behavior

Discussion

Assume abstract base classes are introduced for a family of related components/products:

class ComponentA {...};
class ComponentB {...};

An abstract factory/kit provides abstract factory methods for each of these components:

class Factory
{
public:
�� virtual ComponentA* makeComponentA() = 0;
�� virtual ComponentB* makeComponentB() = 0;
�� // etc.
};

An assembly constructor can now be parameterized by a factory that makes the necessary components:

class Assembly
{
private:
�� ComponentA* a;
�� ComponentB* b;
�� // etc.
public:
�� Assembly(Factory* f)
�� {
����� a = f->makeComponentA();
����� b = f->makeComponentB();
����� // etc.
�� }
};