Q-1). What is a Prototype Design Pattern?
A-1). The Prototype Pattern is a creational design pattern that allows you to create new objects by copying an existing object instead of creating it from scratch.
Q-2). When should you use the Prototype Pattern?
A-2). Use the Prototype Pattern when object creation is resource-intensive, complex, or requires dynamic runtime configuration.
Q-3). What is the difference between shallow copy and deep copy in the Prototype Pattern?
A-3). The differences between shallow copy and deep copy in the Prototype Design Pattern are as follows:
| Shallow Copy | Deep Copy |
| A shallow copy duplicates the object but retains references to the original objects for any fields containing references. | A deep copy duplicates the object and also creates copies of all referenced objects. |
Q-4). How can you implement a deep copy in Java for the Prototype Pattern?
A-4). You can implement a deep copy by manually cloning all the referenced objects or by serializing and deserializing the object.
Q-5). What are the limitations of Java’s Cloneable interface in the Prototype Pattern?
A-5). The limitations of Java’s Cloneable Interface in the Prototype Design Pattern are as follows:
- The Cloneable interface does not enforce the implementation of the clone() method.
- It relies on the Object class’s clone() method, which performs a shallow copy.
- It requires a CloneNotSupportedException to be handled, making it less convenient.
Q-6). Can the Prototype Pattern be used with singleton classes? Why or why not?
A-6). No, the Prototype Pattern is generally not compatible with singleton classes because cloning creates multiple instances, violating the singleton principle.
Q-7). How would you handle circular references in the Prototype Pattern?
A-7). Circular references can be handled by implementing a deep copy that tracks already cloned objects. Use a map to maintain a record of the original and cloned objects to avoid infinite recursion.
Q-8). What are the key benefits of using Prototype Patterns in distributed systems?
A-8). The key benefits of using the Prototype Design Pattern are as follows:
- Reduces object creation time and resource usage when working with expensive initialization processes.
- Improves performance in systems where objects need to be replicated frequently.
- Simplifies the creation of new objects when the class hierarchy is unknown.