Proxy

In proxy pattern, a class represents functionality of another class. This type of design pattern comes under structural pattern.

In proxy pattern, we create object having original object to interface its functionality to outer world.



Proxy in Java recognizable by creational methods which returns an implementation of given abstract/interface type which in turn delegates/uses a different implementation of given abstract/interface type

• java.lang.reflect.Proxy
• java.rmi.*
• javax.ejb.EJB (explanation here)
• javax.inject.Inject (explanation here)
• javax.persistence.PersistenceContext

public interface Image {
   void display();
}

public class RealImage implements Image {

   private String fileName;

   public RealImage(String fileName){
      this.fileName = fileName;
      loadFromDisk(fileName);
   }

   @Override
   public void display() {
      System.out.println("Displaying " + fileName);
   }

   private void loadFromDisk(String fileName){
      System.out.println("Loading " + fileName);
   }
}

public class ProxyImage implements Image{

   private RealImage realImage;
   private String fileName;

   public ProxyImage(String fileName){
      this.fileName = fileName;
   }

   @Override
   public void display() {
      if(realImage == null){
         realImage = new RealImage(fileName);
      }
      realImage.display();
   }
}

public class ProxyPatternDemo {
	
   public static void main(String[] args) {
      Image image = new ProxyImage("test_10mb.jpg");

      //image will be loaded from disk
      image.display(); 
      System.out.println("");
      
      //image will not be loaded from disk
      image.display(); 	
   }
}