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C# Adapter

The Adapter design pattern converts the interface of a class into another interface clients expect. This design pattern lets classes work together that couldn‘t otherwise because of incompatible interfaces.

Frequency of use:
medium-high
C# Design Patterns

UML class diagram

A visualization of the classes and objects participating in this pattern.


Participants

The classes and objects participating in this pattern include:

  • Target   (ChemicalCompound)
    • defines the domain-specific interface that Client uses.
  • Adapter   (Compound)
    • adapts the interface Adaptee to the Target interface.
  • Adaptee   (ChemicalDatabank)
    • defines an existing interface that needs adapting.
  • Client   (AdapterApp)
    • collaborates with objects conforming to the Target interface.

Structural code in C#

This structural code demonstrates the Adapter pattern which maps the interface of one class onto another so that they can work together. These incompatible classes may come from different libraries or frameworks.

using System;

namespace Adapter.Structural
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Adapter Design Pattern
    /// </summary>

    public class Program
    {
        public static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            // Create adapter and place a request

            Target target = new Adapter();
            target.Request();

            // Wait for user

            Console.ReadKey();
        }

    }

    /// <summary>
    /// The 'Target' class
    /// </summary>

    public class Target
    {
        public virtual void Request()
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Called Target Request()");
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// The 'Adapter' class
    /// </summary>

    public class Adapter : Target
    {
        private Adaptee adaptee = new Adaptee();

        public override void Request()
        {
            // Possibly do some other work
            // and then call SpecificRequest

            adaptee.SpecificRequest();
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// The 'Adaptee' class
    /// </summary>

    public class Adaptee
    {
        public void SpecificRequest()
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Called SpecificRequest()");
        }
    }
}
Output
Called SpecificRequest()

Real-world code in C#

This real-world code demonstrates the use of a legacy chemical databank. Chemical compound objects access the databank through an Adapter interface.

using System;

namespace Adapter.RealWorld
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Adapter Design Pattern
    /// </summary>

    public class Program
    {
        public static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            // Non-adapted chemical compound

            Compound unknown = new Compound();
            unknown.Display();

            // Adapted chemical compounds

            Compound water = new RichCompound("Water");
            water.Display();

            Compound benzene = new RichCompound("Benzene");
            benzene.Display();

            Compound ethanol = new RichCompound("Ethanol");
            ethanol.Display();

            // Wait for user

            Console.ReadKey();
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// The 'Target' class
    /// </summary>

    public class Compound
    {
        protected float boilingPoint;
        protected float meltingPoint;
        protected double molecularWeight;
        protected string molecularFormula;

        public virtual void Display()
        {
            Console.WriteLine("\nCompound: Unknown ------ ");
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// The 'Adapter' class
    /// </summary>

    public class RichCompound : Compound
    {
        private string chemical;
        private ChemicalDatabank bank;

        // Constructor

        public RichCompound(string chemical)
        {
            this.chemical = chemical;
        }

        public override void Display()
        {
            // The Adaptee

            bank = new ChemicalDatabank();

            boilingPoint = bank.GetCriticalPoint(chemical, "B");
            meltingPoint = bank.GetCriticalPoint(chemical, "M");
            molecularWeight = bank.GetMolecularWeight(chemical);
            molecularFormula = bank.GetMolecularStructure(chemical);

            Console.WriteLine("\nCompound: {0} ------ ", chemical);
            Console.WriteLine(" Formula: {0}", molecularFormula);
            Console.WriteLine(" Weight : {0}", molecularWeight);
            Console.WriteLine(" Melting Pt: {0}", meltingPoint);
            Console.WriteLine(" Boiling Pt: {0}", boilingPoint);
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// The 'Adaptee' class
    /// </summary>

    public class ChemicalDatabank
    {
        // The databank 'legacy API'

        public float GetCriticalPoint(string compound, string point)
        {
            // Melting Point
            if (point == "M")
            {
                switch (compound.ToLower())
                {
                    case "water": return 0.0f;
                    case "benzene": return 5.5f;
                    case "ethanol": return -114.1f;
                    default: return 0f;
                }
            }

            // Boiling Point

            else
            {
                switch (compound.ToLower())
                {
                    case "water": return 100.0f;
                    case "benzene": return 80.1f;
                    case "ethanol": return 78.3f;
                    default: return 0f;
                }
            }
        }

        public string GetMolecularStructure(string compound)
        {
            switch (compound.ToLower())
            {
                case "water": return "H20";
                case "benzene": return "C6H6";
                case "ethanol": return "C2H5OH";
                default: return "";
            }
        }

        public double GetMolecularWeight(string compound)
        {
            switch (compound.ToLower())
            {
                case "water": return 18.015;
                case "benzene": return 78.1134;
                case "ethanol": return 46.0688;
                default: return 0d;
            }
        }
    }
}
Output
Compound: Unknown ------

Compound: Water ------
 Formula: H20
 Weight : 18.015
 Melting Pt: 0
 Boiling Pt: 100

Compound: Benzene ------
 Formula: C6H6
 Weight : 78.1134
 Melting Pt: 5.5
 Boiling Pt: 80.1

Compound: Alcohol ------
 Formula: C2H6O2
 Weight : 46.0688
 Melting Pt: -114.1
 Boiling Pt: 78.3

.NET Optimized code in C#

The .NET optimized code demonstrates the same real-world situation as above but uses modern, built-in .NET features, such as, generics, reflection, LINQ, lambda functions, etc. You can find an example on our Singleton pattern page.

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