pattern:
public class SingletonObject { private SingletonObject(){}; // Private constructor so the object cannot be
// instantiated outside of this class public static SingletonObject getSingletonObject() // Allow a method to create a { // local copy if the object is if (ref == null) // not yet created. And return // it's ok, we can call this constructor // that object ref = new SingletonObject(); return ref; } private static SingletonObject ref; // provide a local reference }
source: http://www.javacoffeebreak.com/articles/designpatterns/index.html