Interpreter.md

Interpreter

Description

Interpreter pattern provides a way to evaluate language grammar or expressions. It involves implementing an expression interface which tells to interpret a particular context. This pattern is particularly useful for designing a grammar interpreter, such as for a simple language or regular expressions.

Java Code Example

interface Expression {
    boolean interpret(String context);
}

class TerminalExpression implements Expression {
    private String data;

    public TerminalExpression(String data) {
        this.data = data;
    }

    public boolean interpret(String context) {
        if (context.contains(data)) {
            return true;
        }
        return false;
    }
}

class OrExpression implements Expression {
    private Expression expr1 = null;
    private Expression expr2 = null;

    public OrExpression(Expression expr1, Expression expr2) {
        this.expr1 = expr1;
        this.expr2 = expr2;
    }

    public boolean interpret(String context) {
        return expr1.interpret(context) || expr2.interpret(context);
    }
}

class AndExpression implements Expression {
    private Expression expr1 = null;
    private Expression expr2 = null;

    public AndExpression(Expression expr1, Expression expr2) {
        this.expr1 = expr1;
        this.expr2 = expr2;
    }

    public boolean interpret(String context) {
        return expr1.interpret(context) && expr2.interpret(context);
    }
}

public class InterpreterPattern {
    // Rule: Robert and John are male
    public static Expression getMaleExpression() {
        Expression robert = new TerminalExpression("Robert");
        Expression john = new TerminalExpression("John");
        return new OrExpression(robert, john);
    }

    // Rule: Julie is a married woman
    public static Expression getMarriedWomanExpression() {
        Expression julie = new TerminalExpression("Julie");
        Expression married = new TerminalExpression("Married");
        return new AndExpression(julie, married);
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Expression isMale = getMaleExpression();
        Expression isMarriedWoman = getMarriedWomanExpression();

        System.out.println("John is male? " + isMale.interpret("John"));
        System.out.println("Julie is a married woman? " + isMarriedWoman.interpret("Married Julie"));
    }
}