Adapter Pattern

The Adapter Pattern is a structural design pattern that allows objects with incompatible interfaces to work together. It acts as a bridge between two incompatible interfaces.

An adapter converts the interface of a class into another interface that a client expects. This pattern is particularly useful when you want to integrate new functionality into existing systems without altering their structure.

            graph TD;
                A[Client] -->|Uses| B[Adapter];
                B -->|Adapts| C[Adaptee];
                C -->|Implements| D[Target];
            

This flowchart illustrates the interaction between the client, adapter, and the adaptee.

Example in Python

class Target:
    def request(self):
        return "Target: The default target's behavior."

class Adaptee:
    def specific_request(self):
        return "Adaptee: Specific behavior."

class Adapter(Target):
    def __init__(self, adaptee):
        self.adaptee = adaptee

    def request(self):
        return f"Adapter: (TRANSLATED) {self.adaptee.specific_request()}"

# Client code
def client_code(target):
    print(target.request())

adaptee = Adaptee()
adapter = Adapter(adaptee)
client_code(adapter)
            

The above code demonstrates how to implement the Adapter Pattern in Python.

• Use adapters to wrap legacy code.
• Keep adapter implementations minimal to maintain clarity.
• Test the adapter's behavior thoroughly to ensure compatibility.
• Favor composition over inheritance where possible.