A design pattern is a proven and documented solution to a recurring problem in software design. It represents best practices and helps in building flexible, reusable, and maintainable software.
Design patterns are commonly used in object-oriented programming and provide a set of guidelines for structuring code. They promote code reusability, scalability, and maintainability.
There are various types of design patterns, such as creational, structural, and behavioral patterns. Creational patterns focus on object creation mechanisms, structural patterns deal with object composition and relationships, and behavioral patterns address communication and interaction between objects.
By using design patterns, developers can save time and effort by leveraging existing solutions to common problems, rather than reinventing the wheel. Design patterns also improve collaboration among developers, as they provide a common language and understanding of software design concepts.