interfaceswhile

Interfaceswhile is a term used in software design to describe a pattern in which interface-based programming is applied within the control flow of a while loop. The concept emphasizes that the loop operates on abstractions defined by interfaces rather than concrete types, enabling dynamic behavior and easier testing.

Etymology: The name is a portmanteau of interface and while, reflecting its focus on using interfaces inside iterative control structures.

Concept and usage: Interfaceswhile relies on polymorphism to select behavior at runtime. Inside the loop, objects that implement a common interface are retrieved and invoked through the interface, without the loop needing knowledge of their concrete classes.

Example (pseudocode): interface Task { void run(); } while (hasNextTask()) { Task t = nextTask(); t.run(); }

Languages that support interfaces or structural typing, such as Java, C#, or TypeScript, can express interfaceswhile. It is particularly useful when the loop must process heterogeneous elements uniformly.

Trade-offs: The pattern enhances flexibility and testability by decoupling loop logic from concrete implementations, but it can complicate control flow and introduce indirection that affects readability and performance.

See also: interface, while loop, polymorphism, dynamic dispatch, design pattern.