Bridge Pattern

Bridge pattern implementation in java

Bridge pattern decouples abstraction from implementation so that both can vary independently. It has been achieved with composition rather than inheritance.

Bridge UML diagram from wikipedia:

You have four components in this pattern.

Abstraction: It defines an interface

RefinedAbstraction: It implements abstraction:

Implementor: It defines an interface for implementation

ConcreteImplementor: It implements Implementor interface.

The crux of Bridge pattern : Two orthogonal class hierarchies using composition (and no inheritance). The Abstraction hierarchy and Implementation hierarchy can vary independently. Implementation never refers Abstraction. Abstraction contains Implementation interface as a member (through composition). This composition reduces one more level of inheritance hierarchy.

Real word Use case:

Enable different vehicles to have both versions of manual and auto gear system.

Example code:

/* Implementor interface*/
interface Gear{
    void handleGear();
}

/* Concrete Implementor - 1 */
class ManualGear implements Gear{
    public void handleGear(){
        System.out.println("Manual gear");
    }
}
/* Concrete Implementor - 2 */
class AutoGear implements Gear{
    public void handleGear(){
        System.out.println("Auto gear");
    }
}
/* Abstraction (abstract class) */
abstract class Vehicle {
    Gear gear;
    public Vehicle(Gear gear){
        this.gear = gear;
    }
    abstract void addGear();
}
/* RefinedAbstraction - 1*/
class Car extends Vehicle{
    public Car(Gear gear){
        super(gear);
        // initialize various other Car components to make the car
    }
    public void addGear(){
        System.out.print("Car handles ");
        gear.handleGear();
    }
}
/* RefinedAbstraction - 2 */
class Truck extends Vehicle{
    public Truck(Gear gear){
        super(gear);
        // initialize various other Truck components to make the car
    }
    public void addGear(){
        System.out.print("Truck handles " );
        gear.handleGear();
    }
}
/* Client program */
public class BridgeDemo {    
    public static void main(String args[]){
        Gear gear = new ManualGear();
        Vehicle vehicle = new Car(gear);
        vehicle.addGear();
        
        gear = new AutoGear();
        vehicle = new Car(gear);
        vehicle.addGear();
        
        gear = new ManualGear();
        vehicle = new Truck(gear);
        vehicle.addGear();
        
        gear = new AutoGear();
        vehicle = new Truck(gear);
        vehicle.addGear();
    }
}

output:

Car handles Manual gear
Car handles Auto gear
Truck handles Manual gear
Truck handles Auto gear

Explanation:

1. Vehicle is an abstraction.
2. Car and Truck are two concrete implementations of Vehicle.
3. Vehicle defines an abstract method : addGear().
4. Gear is implementor interface
5. ManualGear and AutoGear are two implementations of Gear
6. Vehicle contains implementor interface rather than implementing the interface. Compositon of implementor interface is crux of this pattern : It allows abstraction and implementation to vary independently.
7. Car and Truck define implementation ( redefined abstraction) for abstraction : addGear() : It contains Gear - Either Manual or Auto

Use case(s) for Bridge pattern:

1. Abstraction and Implementation can change independent each other and they are not bound at compile time
2. Map orthogonal hierarchies - One for Abstraction and one for Implementation.