Singleton pattern is one of the simplest design patterns in Java. This type of design pattern comes under the category of creational pattern as this pattern provides one of the best ways to create an object.
This pattern involves a single class which is responsible to create an object while making sure that only single object gets created. This class provides a way to access its only object which can be accessed directly without need to instantiate the object of the class.
The intent of this design pattern is
Singleton.getInstance().doSomething();
According to the definition the singleton pattern should be used when there must be exactly one instance of a class, and when it must be accessible to clients from a global access point. Here are some real situations where the singleton is used:
The Singleton pattern is used in the design of logger classes. This classes are ussualy implemented as a singletons, and provides a global logging access point in all the application components without being necessary to create an object each time a logging operations is performed.
The Singleton pattern is used to design the classes which provides the configuration settings for an application. By implementing configuration classes as Singleton not only that we provide a global access point, but we also keep the instance we use as a cache object. When the class is instantiated( or when a value is read ) the singleton will keep the values in its internal structure. If the values are read from the database or from files this avoids the reloading the values each time the configuration parameters are used.
It can be used in the design of an application that needs to work with the serial port. Let's say that there are many classes in the application, working in an multi-threading environment, which needs to operate actions on the serial port. In this case a singleton with synchronized methods could be used to be used to manage all the operations on the serial port.
Let's assume that we design an application with a factory to generate new objects(Acount, Customer, Site, Address objects) with their ids, in an multithreading environment. If the factory is instantiated twice in 2 different threads then is possible to have 2 overlapping ids for 2 different objects. If we implement the Factory as a singleton we avoid this problem. Combining Abstract Factory or Factory Method and Singleton design patterns is a common practice.
This pattern involves a single class which is responsible to create an object while making sure that only single object gets created. This class provides a way to access its only object which can be accessed directly without need to instantiate the object of the class.
The intent of this design pattern is
- Ensure that only one instance of a class is created.
- Provide a global point of access to the object.
The implementation involves a static member in the "Singleton" class, a private constructor and a static public method that returns a reference to the static member.
The Singleton Pattern defines a getInstance operation which exposes the unique instance which is accessed by the clients. getInstance() is is responsible for creating its class unique instance in case it is not created yet and to return that instance.
class Singleton
{
private static Singleton instance;
private Singleton()
{
...
}
public static synchronized Singleton getInstance()
{
if (instance == null)
instance = new Singleton();
return instance;
}
...
public void doSomething()
{
...
}
}
You can notice in the above code that getInstance method ensures that only one instance of the class is created. The constructor should not be accessible from the outside of the class to ensure the only way of instantiating the class would be only through the getInstance method.
The getInstance method is used also to provide a global point of access to the object and it can be used in the following manner:
Applicability & Examples
According to the definition the singleton pattern should be used when there must be exactly one instance of a class, and when it must be accessible to clients from a global access point. Here are some real situations where the singleton is used:
Example 1 - Logger Classes
The Singleton pattern is used in the design of logger classes. This classes are ussualy implemented as a singletons, and provides a global logging access point in all the application components without being necessary to create an object each time a logging operations is performed.
Example 2 - Configuration Classes
The Singleton pattern is used to design the classes which provides the configuration settings for an application. By implementing configuration classes as Singleton not only that we provide a global access point, but we also keep the instance we use as a cache object. When the class is instantiated( or when a value is read ) the singleton will keep the values in its internal structure. If the values are read from the database or from files this avoids the reloading the values each time the configuration parameters are used.
Example 3 - Accessing resources in shared mode
It can be used in the design of an application that needs to work with the serial port. Let's say that there are many classes in the application, working in an multi-threading environment, which needs to operate actions on the serial port. In this case a singleton with synchronized methods could be used to be used to manage all the operations on the serial port.
Example 4 - Factories implemented as Singletons
Let's assume that we design an application with a factory to generate new objects(Acount, Customer, Site, Address objects) with their ids, in an multithreading environment. If the factory is instantiated twice in 2 different threads then is possible to have 2 overlapping ids for 2 different objects. If we implement the Factory as a singleton we avoid this problem. Combining Abstract Factory or Factory Method and Singleton design patterns is a common practice.
The Singleton Pattern ensures a class has only one instance while providing a global access point. Tools like rsl helper can enhance workflow efficiency, much like Singleton optimizes resource usage in design patterns.
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