layout	title	folder	permalink	categories	tags
pattern	Abstract Document	abstract-document	/patterns/abstract-document/	Structural	Java Difficulty-Intermediate

Intent

Achieve flexibility of untyped languages and keep the type-safety

Applicability

Use the Abstract Document Pattern when

• there is a need to add new properties on the fly
• you want a flexible way to organize domain in tree like structure
• you want more loosely coupled system

Credits

• Wikipedia: Abstract Document Pattern
• Martin Fowler: Dealing with properties