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Template Method in Swift
Template Method is a behavioral design pattern that allows you to defines a skeleton of an algorithm in a base class and let subclasses override the steps without changing the overall algorithm’s structure.
Usage of the pattern in Swift
Complexity:
Popularity:
Usage examples: The Template Method pattern is quite common in Swift frameworks. Developers often use it to provide framework users with a simple means of extending standard functionality using inheritance.
Identification: Template Method can be recognized by behavioral methods that already have a “default” behavior defined by the base class.
Conceptual Example
This example illustrates the structure of the Template Method design pattern and focuses on the following questions:
- What classes does it consist of?
- What roles do these classes play?
- In what way the elements of the pattern are related?
After learning about the pattern’s structure it’ll be easier for you to grasp the following example, based on a real-world Swift use case.
Example.swift: Conceptual example
import XCTest
/// The Abstract Protocol and its extension defines a template method that
/// contains a skeleton of some algorithm, composed of calls to (usually)
/// abstract primitive operations.
///
/// Concrete subclasses should implement these operations, but leave the
/// template method itself intact.
protocol AbstractProtocol {
/// The template method defines the skeleton of an algorithm.
func templateMethod()
/// These operations already have implementations.
func baseOperation1()
func baseOperation2()
func baseOperation3()
/// These operations have to be implemented in subclasses.
func requiredOperations1()
func requiredOperation2()
/// These are "hooks." Subclasses may override them, but it's not mandatory
/// since the hooks already have default (but empty) implementation. Hooks
/// provide additional extension points in some crucial places of the
/// algorithm.
func hook1()
func hook2()
}
extension AbstractProtocol {
func templateMethod() {
baseOperation1()
requiredOperations1()
baseOperation2()
hook1()
requiredOperation2()
baseOperation3()
hook2()
}
/// These operations already have implementations.
func baseOperation1() {
print("AbstractProtocol says: I am doing the bulk of the work\n")
}
func baseOperation2() {
print("AbstractProtocol says: But I let subclasses override some operations\n")
}
func baseOperation3() {
print("AbstractProtocol says: But I am doing the bulk of the work anyway\n")
}
func hook1() {}
func hook2() {}
}
/// Concrete classes have to implement all abstract operations of the base
/// class. They can also override some operations with a default implementation.
class ConcreteClass1: AbstractProtocol {
func requiredOperations1() {
print("ConcreteClass1 says: Implemented Operation1\n")
}
func requiredOperation2() {
print("ConcreteClass1 says: Implemented Operation2\n")
}
func hook2() {
print("ConcreteClass1 says: Overridden Hook2\n")
}
}
/// Usually, concrete classes override only a fraction of base class'
/// operations.
class ConcreteClass2: AbstractProtocol {
func requiredOperations1() {
print("ConcreteClass2 says: Implemented Operation1\n")
}
func requiredOperation2() {
print("ConcreteClass2 says: Implemented Operation2\n")
}
func hook1() {
print("ConcreteClass2 says: Overridden Hook1\n")
}
}
/// The client code calls the template method to execute the algorithm. Client
/// code does not have to know the concrete class of an object it works with, as
/// long as it works with objects through the interface of their base class.
class Client {
// ...
static func clientCode(use object: AbstractProtocol) {
// ...
object.templateMethod()
// ...
}
// ...
}
/// Let's see how it all works together.
class TemplateMethodConceptual: XCTestCase {
func test() {
print("Same client code can work with different subclasses:\n")
Client.clientCode(use: ConcreteClass1())
print("\nSame client code can work with different subclasses:\n")
Client.clientCode(use: ConcreteClass2())
}
}
Output.txt: Execution result
Same client code can work with different subclasses:
AbstractProtocol says: I am doing the bulk of the work
ConcreteClass1 says: Implemented Operation1
AbstractProtocol says: But I let subclasses override some operations
ConcreteClass1 says: Implemented Operation2
AbstractProtocol says: But I am doing the bulk of the work anyway
ConcreteClass1 says: Overridden Hook2
Same client code can work with different subclasses:
AbstractProtocol says: I am doing the bulk of the work
ConcreteClass2 says: Implemented Operation1
AbstractProtocol says: But I let subclasses override some operations
ConcreteClass2 says: Overridden Hook1
ConcreteClass2 says: Implemented Operation2
AbstractProtocol says: But I am doing the bulk of the work anyway
Real World Example
Example.swift: Real world example
import XCTest
import AVFoundation
import CoreLocation
import Photos
class TemplateMethodRealWorld: XCTestCase {
/// A good example of Template Method is a life cycle of UIViewController
func testTemplateMethodReal() {
let accessors = [CameraAccessor(), MicrophoneAccessor(), PhotoLibraryAccessor()]
accessors.forEach { item in
item.requestAccessIfNeeded({ status in
let message = status ? "You have access to " : "You do not have access to "
print(message + item.description + "\n")
})
}
}
}
class PermissionAccessor: CustomStringConvertible {
typealias Completion = (Bool) -> ()
func requestAccessIfNeeded(_ completion: @escaping Completion) {
guard !hasAccess() else { completion(true); return }
willReceiveAccess()
requestAccess { status in
status ? self.didReceiveAccess() : self.didRejectAccess()
completion(status)
}
}
func requestAccess(_ completion: @escaping Completion) {
fatalError("Should be overridden")
}
func hasAccess() -> Bool {
fatalError("Should be overridden")
}
var description: String { return "PermissionAccessor" }
/// Hooks
func willReceiveAccess() {}
func didReceiveAccess() {}
func didRejectAccess() {}
}
class CameraAccessor: PermissionAccessor {
override func requestAccess(_ completion: @escaping Completion) {
AVCaptureDevice.requestAccess(for: .video) { status in
return completion(status)
}
}
override func hasAccess() -> Bool {
return AVCaptureDevice.authorizationStatus(for: .video) == .authorized
}
override var description: String { return "Camera" }
}
class MicrophoneAccessor: PermissionAccessor {
override func requestAccess(_ completion: @escaping Completion) {
AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().requestRecordPermission { status in
completion(status)
}
}
override func hasAccess() -> Bool {
return AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().recordPermission == .granted
}
override var description: String { return "Microphone" }
}
class PhotoLibraryAccessor: PermissionAccessor {
override func requestAccess(_ completion: @escaping Completion) {
PHPhotoLibrary.requestAuthorization { status in
completion(status == .authorized)
}
}
override func hasAccess() -> Bool {
return PHPhotoLibrary.authorizationStatus() == .authorized
}
override var description: String { return "PhotoLibrary" }
override func didReceiveAccess() {
/// We want to track how many people give access to the PhotoLibrary.
print("PhotoLibrary Accessor: Receive access. Updating analytics...")
}
override func didRejectAccess() {
/// ... and also we want to track how many people rejected access.
print("PhotoLibrary Accessor: Rejected with access. Updating analytics...")
}
}
Output.txt: Execution result
You have access to Camera
You have access to Microphone
PhotoLibrary Accessor: Rejected with access. Updating analytics...
You do not have access to PhotoLibrary
