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Observer Design Pattern in C++

Observer design pattern

  1. Model the "independent" functionality with a "subject" abstraction
  2. Model the "dependent" functionality with "observer" hierarchy
  3. The Subject is coupled only to the Observer base class
  4. Observers register themselves with the Subject
  5. The Subject broadcasts events to all registered Observers
  6. Observers "pull" the information they need from the Subject
  7. Client configures the number and type of Observers
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
using namespace std;

class Subject {
    // 1. "independent" functionality
    vector < class Observer * > views; // 3. Coupled only to "interface"
    int value;
  public:
    void attach(Observer *obs) {
        views.push_back(obs);
    }
    void setVal(int val) {
        value = val;
        notify();
    }
    int getVal() {
        return value;
    }
    void notify();
};

class Observer {
    // 2. "dependent" functionality
    Subject *model;
    int denom;
  public:
    Observer(Subject *mod, int div) {
        model = mod;
        denom = div;
        // 4. Observers register themselves with the Subject
        model->attach(this);
    }
    virtual void update() = 0;
  protected:
    Subject *getSubject() {
        return model;
    }
    int getDivisor() {
        return denom;
    }
};

void Subject::notify() {
  // 5. Publisher broadcasts
  for (int i = 0; i < views.size(); i++)
    views[i]->update();
}

class DivObserver: public Observer {
  public:
    DivObserver(Subject *mod, int div): Observer(mod, div){}
    void update() {
        // 6. "Pull" information of interest
        int v = getSubject()->getVal(), d = getDivisor();
        cout << v << " div " << d << " is " << v / d << '\n';
    }
};

class ModObserver: public Observer {
  public:
    ModObserver(Subject *mod, int div): Observer(mod, div){}
    void update() {
        int v = getSubject()->getVal(), d = getDivisor();
        cout << v << " mod " << d << " is " << v % d << '\n';
    }
};

int main() {
  Subject subj;
  DivObserver divObs1(&subj, 4); // 7. Client configures the number and
  DivObserver divObs2(&subj, 3); //    type of Observers
  ModObserver modObs3(&subj, 3);
  subj.setVal(14);
}

Output

14 div 4 is 3
14 div 3 is 4
14 mod 3 is 2

Code examples

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PHP Observer in PHP
Delphi Observer in Delphi
Python Observer in Python