EP 47 : Adapter Design Pattern in C#

Adapter is a structural design pattern that allows objects with incompatible interfaces to collaborate.

Analogy

Imagine you have different electronic devices with various power plugs, and you want to connect them all to a single power outlet.

Instead of modifying the devices, you use plug adapters. These adapters act as intermediaries, allowing each device to connect to the outlet seamlessly.

Similarly, the Adapter Design Pattern lets incompatible classes work together by providing a wrapper (adapter) that bridges the gap between their interfaces.

When should we use it ?

Utilize the Adapter class when you need to incorporate an existing class into your code, but its interface doesn’t align with the rest of your system.

Advantages and Disadvantages

By using adapter design pattern we fulfill S and O from SOLID Principles , although in some situations it can increase the complexity of code.

Enough talk, let’s see code in action.

How to implement Adapter in C#

Suppose we have some old code with in compatible interfaces.

And now we have a new interface expected by the rest of the code

Let’s make an adapter class that makes OldSystem compatible with INewSystem

Let’s see now how can we utilise it.

If you wanna learn more about design patterns here are three awesome resources

• Design Patterns Series by Steve Smith on Pluralsight
• Design Patterns Simplified eBook by Stefan Dokic
• Refactoring Guru

P.S: These are not promotional links at all, I personally found them helpful

Whenever you’re ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:

1. Promote yourself to 9800+ subscribers by Sponsoring my Newsletter
2. Previous sponsors : Jetbrains, Workflow Engine
3. Become a Patron and get access to 200+ .NET Questions and Answers

The way is not in the sky; the way is in the heart — Buddha