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    C++ Design Pattern: What is a Singleton class?

    Q: What is a singleton class?

    A: A class whose number of instances that can be instantiated is limited to one is called a singleton class. Thus, at any given time only one instance can exist, no more.



    Q: Can you give me an example, where it is used?

    A: The singleton design pattern is used whenever the design requires only one instance of a class. Some examples:
    • Application classes. There should only be one application class. (Note: Please bear in mind, MFC class 'CWinApp' is not implemented as a singleton class)
    • Logger classes. For logging purposes of an application there is usually one logger instance required.




    Q: How could a singleton class be implemented?

    A: There are several ways of creating a singleton class. The most simple approach is shown below:

    Code:
    class CMySingleton
    {
    public:
      static CMySingleton& Instance()
      {
        static CMySingleton singleton;
        return singleton;
      }
    
    // Other non-static member functions
    private:
      CMySingleton() {};                                 // Private constructor
      CMySingleton(const CMySingleton&);                 // Prevent copy-construction
      CMySingleton& operator=(const CMySingleton&);      // Prevent assignment
    };


    Q: Can I extend the singleton pattern to allow more than one instance?

    A: The general purpose of the singleton design pattern is to limit the number of instances of a class to only one. However, the pattern can be extended by many ways to actually control the number of instances allowed. One way is shown below...

    Code:
    class CMyClass
    {
    private:
      CMyClass() {}                           // Private Constructor
    
      static int nCount;                      // Current number of instances
      static int nMaxInstance;                // Maximum number of instances
    
    public:
      ~CMyClass();                            // Public Destructor
    
      static CMyClass* CreateInstance();      // Construct Indirectly
    
      //Add whatever members you want
    };
    • Here we declare our constructor/s as private, thus denying direct creation of the class.
    • A static function CreateInstance that creates the class indirectly for us.
    • Two static members, one holding the current number of instances, another one the maximum allowed.
    • Note: We have to declare at least one constructor (private - of course), else direct creation will be possible.


    Code:
    int CMyClass::nCount = 0;
    int CMyClass::nMaxInstance = 1;         // When maxInstance is 1, we have a pure singleton class
    
    CMyClass::~CMyClass()
    {
      --nCount;                             // Decrement number of instances
    }
    
    CMyClass* CMyClass::CreateInstance()
    {
      CMyClass* ptr = NULL;
    
      if(nMaxInstance > nCount)
      {
        ptr = new CMyClass;  
        ++nCount;                           // Increment no of instances
      }
      return ptr;
    }
    • Everytime an instance is created, the count is incremented, and when the object is deleted, the destructor is invoked, and the count is decremented.
    • Since, the objective is to limit the number of instances, we allow direct destruction of object.
    • As a special case, when 'maxInstance' is 1, we have a pure singleton class.


    Now if you want to create an instance of the class:

    Code:
    CMyClass* pObj = CMyClass::CreateInstance();
    if(pObj)
    {
      // Success
    }
    else
    {
      // Failed to create, probably because the maximum number of instances has already been created
    }
    Note, that the successfully created instance(s) need(s) to be released to ensure that no memory leak occurs:

    Code:
    delete pObj;

    Last edited by Andreas Masur; July 24th, 2005 at 05:34 AM.

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