Factory Pattern Overview

Factory pattern provides a generic interface for creating objects, where we can specify the type of factory object we wish to be created.

This pattern particularly useful if the object creation process is relatively complex, e.g. if it strongly depends on dynamic factors or application configuration.

Examples of this pattern can be found in UI libraries such as ExtJS where the methods for creating objects or components may be further subclassed.

Factory Pattern Example

Let's demonstrates how a Vehicle Factory may be implemented using the Factory pattern:

 
// A constructor for defining new cars
function Car( options ) {
 
  // some defaults
  this.doors = options.doors || 4;
  this.state = options.state || "brand new";
  this.color = options.color || "silver";
 
}
 
// A constructor for defining new trucks
function Truck( options){
 
  this.state = options.state || "used";
  this.wheelSize = options.wheelSize || "large";
  this.color = options.color || "blue";
}
 
// FactoryExample.js
 
// Define a skeleton vehicle factory
function VehicleFactory() {}
 
// Define the prototypes and utilities for this factory
 
// Our default vehicleClass is Car
VehicleFactory.prototype.vehicleClass = Car;
 
// Our Factory method for creating new Vehicle instances
VehicleFactory.prototype.createVehicle = function ( options ) {
 
  switch(options.vehicleType){
    case "car":
      this.vehicleClass = Car;
      break;
    case "truck":
      this.vehicleClass = Truck;
      break;
    //defaults to VehicleFactory.prototype.vehicleClass (Car)
  }
 
  return new this.vehicleClass( options );
 
};
 
// Create an instance of our factory that makes cars
var carFactory = new VehicleFactory();
var car = carFactory.createVehicle( {
            vehicleType: "car",
            color: "yellow",
            doors: 6 } );
 
// Test to confirm our car was created using the vehicleClass/prototype Car
 
// Outputs: true
console.log( car instanceof Car );
 
// Outputs: Car object of color "yellow", doors: 6 in a "brand new" state
console.log( car );

Output:

true
Car {doors: 6, state: "brand new", color: "yellow"}

Let's create an instance of our factory that makes trucks:

var movingTruck = carFactory.createVehicle( {
                      vehicleType: "truck",
                      state: "like new",
                      color: "red",
                      wheelSize: "small" } );
 
// Test to confirm our truck was created with the vehicleClass/prototype Truck
 
// Outputs: true
console.log( movingTruck instanceof Truck );
 
// Outputs: Truck object of color "red", a "like new" state
// and a "small" wheelSize
console.log( movingTruck );

Output:

true
125 Truck {state: "like new", wheelSize: "small", color: "red"}

When To Use The Factory Pattern

The Factory pattern can be especially useful when applied to the following situations:

When our object or component setup involves a high level of complexity
When we need to easily generate different instances of objects depending on the environment we are in
When we're working with many small objects or components that share the same properties
When composing objects with instances of other objects that need only satisfy an API contract (aka, duck typing) to work. This is useful for decoupling.

When Not To Use The Factory Pattern

When applied to the wrong type of problem, this pattern can introduce an unnecessarily great deal of complexity to an application. Unless providing an interface for object creation is a design goal for the library or framework we are writing, I would suggest sticking to explicit constructors to avoid the unnecessary overhead.

Due to the fact that the process of object creation is effectively abstracted behind an interface, this can also introduce problems with unit testing depending on just how complex this process might be.