Template Method Design Pattern in Java

Template Method design pattern

  1. Standardize the skeleton of an algorithm in a base class "template" method
  2. Common implementations of individual steps are defined in the base class
  3. Steps requiring peculiar implementations are "placeholders" in base class
  4. Derived classes can override placeholder methods
  5. Derived classes can override implemented methods
  6. Derived classes can override and "call back to" base class methods
abstract class Generalization {
    // 1. Standardize the skeleton of an algorithm in a "template" method
    void findSolution() {
        stepOne();
        stepTwo();
        stepThr();
        stepFor();
    }
    // 2. Common implementations of individual steps are defined in base class
    private void stepOne() {
        System.out.println("Generalization.stepOne");
    }
    // 3. Steps requiring peculiar implementations are "placeholders" in the base class
    abstract void stepTwo();
    abstract void stepThr();

    void stepFor() {
        System.out.println( "Generalization.stepFor" );
    }
}

abstract class Specialization extends Generalization {
    // 4. Derived classes can override placeholder methods
    // 1. Standardize the skeleton of an algorithm in a "template" method
    protected void stepThr() {
        step3_1();
        step3_2();
        step3_3();
    }
    // 2. Common implementations of individual steps are defined in base class
    private void step3_1() {
        System.out.println("Specialization.step3_1");
    }
    // 3. Steps requiring peculiar implementations are "placeholders" in the base class
    abstract protected void step3_2();

    private void step3_3() {
        System.out.println("Specialization.step3_3");
    }
}

class Realization extends Specialization {
    // 4. Derived classes can override placeholder methods
    protected void stepTwo() {
        System.out.println("Realization.stepTwo");
    }

    protected void step3_2() {
        System.out.println( "Realization.step3_2");
    }

    // 5. Derived classes can override implemented methods
    // 6. Derived classes can override and "call back to" base class methods
    protected void stepFor() {
        System.out.println("Realization.stepFor");
        super.stepFor();
    }
}

public class TemplateMethodDemo {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Generalization algorithm = new Realization();
        algorithm.findSolution();
    }
}

Output

Generalization.stepOne
Realization.stepTwo
Specialization.step3_1
Realization.step3_2
Specialization.step3_3
Realization.stepFor
Generalization.stepFor

Code examples