design pattern
compound.compound. a standard solution to a common problem that happens often in software development. It is like a blueprint or a template that you can follow to write better code.
compound. a general, reusable solution to a commonly occurring problem within a given context in software design. It serves as a template for how to solve a problem that can be used in many different situations rather than a finished design that can be transformed directly into code.
The developer used a design pattern to organize the new app.
By implementing a well-known design pattern, the engineering team ensured that the new module would be easy for future hires to understand.
While applying a specific design pattern can significantly improve code maintainability, over-engineering a simple system with unnecessary patterns can lead to excessive complexity and reduced performance.
The term was adapted from the field of architecture, specifically the work of Christopher Alexander in the 1970s. It was later formalised within computer science by the 'Gang of Four' in their 1994 publication on the subject.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Commonly used in the plural ('design patterns') when discussing software architecture or engineering principles.
Last updated July 22, 2026