Mediator
Table of content
This pattern defines an object that encapsulates how a set of objects interact. Mediator promotes loose coupling by keeping objects from referring to each other explicitly, and it lets you vary their interaction independently. This pattern helps to model a class whose object at run-time is responsible for controlling and coordinating the interactions of a group of other objects.
Participants
Mediator — defines the interface for communication between Colleague objects. ConcreteMediator — implements the Mediator interface and coordinates communication between Colleague objects. It is aware of all the Colleagues and their purpose with regards to inter communication. ConcreteColleague — communicates with other Colleagues through its Mediator.
Examples
Cost
This pattern is not expensive because there is not much constraint on it.
Creation
This pattern is easy to create.
Maintenance
This pattern is easy to maintain.
Removal
Each object can easily be transformed to another structure using refactoring.
Advises
- Put the mediator term in the name of the iterator class to indicate the use of the pattern to the other developers.
Implementations
Implementation in Java
// Colleague interface
interface Command {
void execute();
}
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
// Concrete mediator
class Mediator {
BtnView btnView;
BtnSearch btnSearch;
BtnBook btnBook;
LblDisplay show;
//....
void registerView(BtnView v) {
btnView = v;
}
void registerSearch(BtnSearch s) {
btnSearch = s;
}
void registerBook(BtnBook b) {
btnBook = b;
}
void registerDisplay(LblDisplay d) {
show = d;
}
void book() {
btnBook.setEnabled(false);
btnView.setEnabled(true);
btnSearch.setEnabled(true);
show.setText("booking...");
}
void view() {
btnView.setEnabled(false);
btnSearch.setEnabled(true);
btnBook.setEnabled(true);
show.setText("viewing...");
}
void search() {
btnSearch.setEnabled(false);
btnView.setEnabled(true);
btnBook.setEnabled(true);
show.setText("searching...");
}
}
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
// A concrete colleague
class BtnView extends JButton implements Command {
Mediator med;
BtnView(ActionListener al, Mediator m) {
super("View");
addActionListener(al);
med = m;
med.registerView(this);
}
public void execute() {
med.view();
}
}
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
// A concrete colleague
class BtnSearch extends JButton implements Command {
Mediator med;
BtnSearch(ActionListener al, Mediator m) {
super("Search");
addActionListener(al);
med = m;
med.registerSearch(this);
}
public void execute() {
med.search();
}
}
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
// A concrete colleague
class BtnBook extends JButton implements Command {
Mediator med;
BtnBook(ActionListener al, Mediator m) {
super("Book");
addActionListener(al);
med = m;
med.registerBook(this);
}
public void execute() {
med.book();
}
}
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
class LblDisplay extends JLabel {
Mediator med;
LblDisplay(Mediator m) {
super("Just start...");
med = m;
med.registerDisplay(this);
setFont(new Font("Arial", Font.BOLD, 24));
}
}
import java.awt.Font;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import javax.swing.JButton;
import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JPanel;
class MediatorDemo extends JFrame implements ActionListener {
Mediator med = new Mediator();
MediatorDemo() {
JPanel p = new JPanel();
p.add(new BtnView(this, med));
p.add(new BtnBook(this, med));
p.add(new BtnSearch(this, med));
getContentPane().add(new LblDisplay(med), "North");
getContentPane().add(p, "South");
setSize(400, 200);
setVisible(true);
}
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent ae) {
Command comd = (Command) ae.getSource();
comd.execute();
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
new MediatorDemo();
}
}
Implementation in C#
using System;
using System.Collections;
class MainApp
{
static void Main()
{
ConcreteMediator m = new ConcreteMediator();
ConcreteColleague1 c1 = new ConcreteColleague1(m);
ConcreteColleague2 c2 = new ConcreteColleague2(m);
m.Colleague1 = c1;
m.Colleague2 = c2;
c1.Send("How are you?");
c2.Send("Fine, thanks");
// Wait for user
Console.Read();
}
}
// "Mediator"
abstract class Mediator
{
public abstract void Send(string message,
Colleague colleague);
}
// "ConcreteMediator"
class ConcreteMediator : Mediator
{
private ConcreteColleague1 colleague1;
private ConcreteColleague2 colleague2;
public ConcreteColleague1 Colleague1
{
set{ colleague1 = value; }
}
public ConcreteColleague2 Colleague2
{
set{ colleague2 = value; }
}
public override void Send(string message,
Colleague colleague)
{
if (colleague == colleague1)
{
colleague2.Notify(message);
}
else
{
colleague1.Notify(message);
}
}
}
// "Colleague"
abstract class Colleague
{
protected Mediator mediator;
// Constructor
public Colleague(Mediator mediator)
{
this.mediator = mediator;
}
}
// "ConcreteColleague1"
class ConcreteColleague1 : Colleague
{
// Constructor
public ConcreteColleague1(Mediator mediator)
: base(mediator)
{
}
public void Send(string message)
{
mediator.Send(message, this);
}
public void Notify(string message)
{
Console.WriteLine("Colleague1 gets message: "
+ message);
}
}
// "ConcreteColleague2"
class ConcreteColleague2 : Colleague
{
// Constructor
public ConcreteColleague2(Mediator mediator)
: base(mediator)
{
}
public void Send(string message)
{
mediator.Send(message, this);
}
public void Notify(string message)
{
Console.WriteLine("Colleague2 gets message: "
+ message);
}
}