Components of Iterator Design Pattern
The Iterator design pattern consists of several components:
1. Iterator Interface/Abstract Class
Defines the interface for accessing and traversing elements in the collection. It typically includes methods like hasNext()
, next()
, and optionally remove()
.
2. Concrete Iterator
Implements the Iterator interface and maintains the current position in the traversal of the aggregate. It provides the actual implementation for the traversal operations defined in the Iterator interface.
3. Aggregate Interface/Abstract Class
Defines the interface for creating an Iterator object. It typically includes a method like createIterator()
that returns an Iterator object for the collection.
4. Concrete Aggregate
Implements the Aggregate interface and represents the collection of objects. It provides the implementation for creating an Iterator object that can traverse its elements.
Iterator Design Pattern
The Iterator pattern is a widely used design pattern in software development that provides a way to access the elements of an aggregate object (such as a list or collection) sequentially without exposing its underlying representation.
Table of Content
- What is the Iterator Design Pattern?
- Components of Iterator Design Pattern
- Iterator Design Pattern example
- When to use Iterator Design Pattern
- When to not use Iterator Design Pattern