Flyweight: meaning, definitions and examples
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flyweight
[ ˈflaɪˌweɪt ]
software design
A flyweight is a design pattern used in software engineering to minimize memory usage by sharing common parts of state among multiple objects. It is particularly useful in scenarios where a large number of objects may share the same data, reducing overhead and improving performance.
Synonyms
memory-efficient object, shared object
Examples of usage
- The flyweight pattern is often used in graphics rendering.
- By implementing a flyweight, the application reduced memory consumption significantly.
- The flyweight approach allowed the game to handle thousands of entities efficiently.
weight category
In a more general sense, 'flyweight' can also refer to a very lightweight object or entity. This usage might apply in various contexts to denote something that is very light in weight.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The flyweight design of this bicycle makes it easy to carry.
- His flyweight physique made him agile in the ring.
- The team prefers flyweight gear for long hikes.
Translations
Translations of the word "flyweight" in other languages:
🇵🇹 peso leve
🇮🇳 फ्लाईवेट
🇩🇪 Fliegengewicht
🇮🇩 berat terbang
🇺🇦 легкий ваг
🇵🇱 lekki ciężar
🇯🇵 フライウェイト
🇫🇷 poids mouche
🇪🇸 peso mosca
🇹🇷 hafif ağırlık
🇰🇷 플라이급
🇸🇦 وزن خفيف
🇨🇿 malinká váha
🇸🇰 ľahká váha
🇨🇳 轻量级
🇸🇮 lahka teža
🇮🇸 léttur þyngd
🇰🇿 жеңіл салмақ
🇬🇪 მცირე წონა
🇦🇿 yüngül çəki
🇲🇽 peso mosca
Etymology
The term 'flyweight' originates from the boxing and sports arena, where it describes the lowest weight class in boxing, where fighters weigh no more than 112 pounds. The word is a compound of 'fly', which can mean 'light' or 'to soar', and 'weight', referring to the heaviness or mass of an object. Over time, its usage expanded beyond sports, particularly into software engineering during the 1990s. The Flyweight pattern was formally introduced in the book 'Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software' by Gamma et al. in 1994. This design pattern emphasizes reducing memory usage when dealing with large numbers of objects, making it beneficial for applications requiring extensive resources. The adaptation of 'flyweight' in design parlance reflects the original boxing term's emphasis on efficiency, agility, and minimalism.