Pattern : NOUN PHRASE NAME
- ALIASES : Solution Phrase Name
- CONTEXT : You are writing a pattern (or pattern
language) that may need to be referred to by other patterns or
pattern languages. You have created a pattern that you are attempting
to name by applying Evocative Pattern Name.
- PROBLEM : How do you name a pattern so that it is easy to
remember and refer to?
- FORCES :
- Names that
describe the problem are not unique since there may be
several solutions to the problem. Supposed you were
directed to "Apply the Implementing State Machine
pattern." If there were several patterns which solved
this problem, which solution does this name refer to?
- Names containing
verbs or prepositions are difficult to use in
conversation. Note the tension in this conversation:
"What's that?" "Oh, it's an Object from a State."
- Names that
describe the process of creating the solution are hard
to use in a sentence describing the solution. It forces
you to use phrase like: "In this design, we have an
example of Create Objects for States."
- Describing the
result of applying a pattern helps the reader visualize
the result but it does not help convey the problem being
solved. "What's that? Oh, that's a State Object."
- Since an important
purpose of patterns is to foster communication by
creating a shared vocabulary, pattern names should be
easy to say.
- SOLUTION : Name the pattern after the result it creates.
- RELATED PATTERNS:This pattern is a way to create an Evocative Pattern Name.
