What are design patterns in software development?

Design patterns in software development refer to reusable solutions that address common problems encountered in software design. They are established best practices that have been refined over time, providing developers with templates to solve specific design issues effectively. By using these patterns, developers can avoid reinventing the wheel and instead employ well-known strategies that enhance code maintainability, scalability, and reusability.

Design patterns typically fall into categories such as creational, structural, and behavioral patterns, each dealing with different aspects of software design. For instance, patterns like Singleton or Factory patterns help manage object creation, while Observer or Strategy patterns focus on communication between objects and behavior management.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the concept of design patterns. While patents concern the legal protection of ideas, they do not pertain to software methodologies. Specific programming languages are tools for implementation rather than solutions to design problems. Additionally, frameworks often provide a foundation for building applications but do not encapsulate the reusable, problem-solving nature of design patterns.