Intent: Specify the kinds of objects to create using a prototypical instance, and create new objects by copying this prototype.

Applicability: Use the Prototype pattern when a system should be independent of how its products are created, composed and represented; and

• when the classes to instantiate are specified at run-time, for example, by dynamic loading; or
• to avoid building a class hierarchy of factories that parallels the class hierarchy of products; or
• when instances of a class can have one of only a few different combinations of state. It may be more convenient to install a corresponding number of prototypes and clone them rather than instantiating the class manually, each time with the appropriate state

Real world examples:

• java.lang.Object#clone()