Definition
Use a simple object to represent a complex one or provide a placeholder for another object to control access to it.Where to use & benefits
If creating an object is too expensive in time or memory.Postpone the creation until you need the actual object.
Load a large image (time consuming).
Load a remote object over network during peak periods.
Access right is required to a complex system.
Related patterns include
Adapter pattern, which provides a different interface to the object it adapts, whereas a proxy provides the same interface as its subject, andDecorator pattern, which focuses on adding new functions to an object, whereas a proxy controls access to the object.
Example
When loading a large image, you may create some light object to represent it until the image is loaded completely. Usually a proxy object has the same methods as the object it represents. Once the object is loaded, it passes on the actual object. For example,
abstract class Graphic {
public abstract void load();
public abstract void draw();
...
}
class Image extends Graphic{
public void load() {
...
}
public void draw() {
...
}
...
}
class ImgProxy extends Graphic {
public void load() {
if(image == null) {
image = new Image(filename);
}
...
public void draw() {
...
}
...
}