When to use Iterator Design Pattern

What is the Iterator Design Pattern?

The Iterator design pattern is a behavioral design pattern that provides a way to access the elements of an aggregate object (like a list) sequentially without exposing its underlying representation. It defines a separate object, called an iterator, which encapsulates the details of traversing the elements of the aggregate, allowing the aggregate to change its internal structure without affecting the way its elements are accessed....

Components of Iterator Design Pattern

The Iterator design pattern consists of several components:...

Iterator Design Pattern example

Problem Statement:...

When to use Iterator Design Pattern

Need for sequential access: Use the Iterator pattern when you need to access elements of a collection sequentially without exposing its underlying representation. This pattern provides a uniform way to iterate over different types of collections.Decoupling iteration logic: Use the Iterator pattern when you want to decouple the iteration logic from the collection. This allows the collection to change its internal structure without affecting the way its elements are accessed.Support for multiple iterators: Use the Iterator pattern when you need to support multiple iterators over the same collection. Each iterator maintains its own iteration state, allowing multiple iterations to occur concurrently.Simplifying client code: Use the Iterator pattern to simplify client code that iterates over a collection. Clients only need to interact with the iterator interface, abstracting away the complexity of the collection’s internal structure....

When to not use Iterator Design Pattern

When the collection is not accessed sequentially: If the collection is not accessed sequentially, using the Iterator pattern may add unnecessary complexity. Consider other patterns or direct access methods based on the specific access patterns required.When the collection structure is fixed: If the structure of the collection is fixed and unlikely to change, using the Iterator pattern may be overkill. Direct access methods may be more appropriate and simpler to implement.When performance is critical: In performance-critical applications, the overhead of using iterators may be significant, especially if the collection is large. In such cases, consider direct access methods for better performance.When the language provides better alternatives: Some languages provide built-in constructs or libraries that offer more efficient ways to iterate over collections. In such cases, using these alternatives may be more appropriate than implementing the Iterator pattern from scratch....