What is the Singleton pattern, and how is it commonly implemented in OutSystems?

The Singleton pattern is a design pattern that aims to restrict the instantiation of a class to a single instance while providing a global access point to that instance. This is particularly useful in scenarios where a single point of control or coordination is required, such as in configuration management or resource pooling.

In the context of OutSystems, Site Properties serve as a perfect implementation of the Singleton pattern. They allow you to define a property that is accessible throughout the entire application in a consistent manner. By using Site Properties, you ensure that there is only one instance of that property value, regardless of how many modules or components access it. This prevents redundancy and maintains a single source of truth for configuration settings across the application.

By implementing the Singleton pattern in this manner, OutSystems applications can effectively manage shared resources, configurations, and settings, promoting both coherence and simplicity in access management. This ensures efficient use of resources and reduces potential conflicts that could arise if multiple instances were allowed.