Repository Pattern gained a lot of popularity after its introduction way back in 2004 as a part of Domain-Driven Design. It is an old design pattern that was first introduced in C++ and Java based programs. These programs used Repository Pattern to map data/business objects to memory.
Primarily, repository pattern provides collection of data. Performing CRUD operations on items from this collection are done through a series of simple methods without the need to deal with database connections and commands, etc. However, with repository pattern’s popularity also comes its frequent misuse for data manipulation purposes.
What is Repository Pattern?
Accessing the database logic directly into the business logic is not a good idea. It may cause problems like duplication of code and difficulty in completing unit testing because it cannot be done without external dependencies like database/data objects, etc.
Repository Pattern separates the database logic and maps it to the objects in the business logic. It works with the domain entities and performs database logic. In the Repository pattern, the data objects, the database logic, and the business logic connect to each other using interfaces.
Interface hides the details of database logic from the business logic. In other words, business logic can only access the data object without having knowledge of the database architecture. For example, if you have implemented the repository pattern in your application, the business logic is not aware whether you are using LINQ to SQL or ADO.NET Entity Framework, etc.
Repository pattern sets the developers free from losing any data and makes its use best for business environment. It shares similar features like other design patterns which were built for the repository objects.
Repository Pattern in Magento 2
Magento 2 came up with an exciting ecommerce experience that has excellent performance, stability, and outstanding user experience. One of the main reasons of transforming Magento Platform with the Magento 2 version is to improve the API standards. For dealing with such situation, repository pattern had proved itself to be the useful tool.
Understanding repository pattern in Magento 2 is an important part of being a Magento 2 developer, but at this point in the lifecycle of the popular CMS, repository pattern is somehow ready to shoulder the little burden of Magento 2 Model Layer.
To understand repository pattern in Magento 2, here is a code example:
// Retrieving model using id $model = $modelRepository->loadById($id); // Retrieving data from model $modelname= $model->getName(); // Changes in data $model->setActive(true); // Changes saved successfully $modelRepository->save($model);
In the code example above, you can see that loading model, retrieving, and changing in data and then saving model is easily achieved by using the repository pattern. You can also take an example from Magento 2 source code itself.
Conclusion
Repository pattern has helped programmers/developers to customize the Magento 2 system and continue to build great eCommerce products quickly. The process of retrieving data from business logic seems to be quite beneficial for Magneto 2. As a result, the platform has increased in speed, functionality, stability, and performance.
This was the guide to understanding the repository pattern in Magento 2. However, Magneto learners and newbies can also refer to the Magento 2 source code and documentation for further research and experience.
This is a guest blog post by Fayyaz Khattak – the Magento Community Manager at Cloudways – a Managed Magento Hosting platform.
