# 🔖 Pattern Last updated: 2026-05-07 A **pattern** is a reusable solution to a recurring problem within a given context. More formally, a pattern consists of three essential elements: 1. **Context** → A recurring set of situations or conditions in which the pattern applies 2. **Problem** → A set of forces (goals and constraints) that arise in that context 3. **Solution** → A proven, generic scheme for resolving the problem It describes what problem is being solved, the structure of the solution, the principles that govern it, and the conditions under which it succeeds or fails. ## Key Characteristics - **Recurring:** The problem appears multiple times across different systems or scenarios - **Proven:** The solution has been tested and verified to work in practice - **Reusable:** The solution can be adapted and applied to different contexts - **Documented:** The pattern is formally described in a standardized way ## Sources - [A Pattern Language - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Pattern_Language) → Christopher Alexander's foundational work that introduced patterns to design disciplines - [NUS Software Engineering Textbook - Design Patterns](https://nus-cs2103-ay1920s1.github.io/website/se-book-adapted/chapters/designPatterns.html) → Core definition and context - [What is a Pattern? - TU Dresden](https://st.inf.tu-dresden.de/files/teaching/dpf/tesanovic-WhatIsAPattern.pdf) → Aleksandra Tešanovic's academic paper detailing pattern characteristics and the "rule of three" verification method - [Gang of Four Design Patterns - DigitalOcean](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/gangs-of-four-gof-design-patterns) → Overview of the seminal 1994 book that popularized design patterns in software engineering