Multiton pattern: Difference between revisions

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In [[software engineering]], the '''multiton pattern''' is a [[design pattern (computer science)|design pattern]] which generalizes the [[singleton pattern]]. Whereas the [[singleton pattern | singleton]] allows only one instance of a class to be created, the multiton pattern allows for the controlled creation of multiple instances, which it manages through the use of a [[associative array|map]].

Rather than having a single instance ''per application'' (e.g. the {{Javadoc:SE|package=java.lang|java/lang|Runtime}} object in the [[Java (programming language)|Java programming language]]) the multiton pattern instead ensures a single instance ''per key''.

The multiton pattern does not explicitly appear as a pattern in the highly regarded [[object-oriented programming]] textbook ''[[Design Patterns (book)|Design Patterns]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=O'Docherty |first1=Mike |title=Object-oriented analysis and design: understanding system development with UML 2.0 |date=2005 |publisher=Wiley |___location=Chichester |isbn=0470092408 |page=341}}</ref> However, the book describes using a '''registry of singletons''' to allow subclassing of singletons,<ref>{{cite book |title=Design patterns: elements of reusable object-oriented software |date=2011 |publisher=Addison-Wesley |___location=Boston, Mass. Munich |isbn=0-201-63361-2 |page=130}}</ref> which is essentially the multiton pattern.{{Citation needed|date=April 2012}}

==Description==