Question

I would like to know the proper term for a method whose only reason of existence is to make a method call easier, make a method name sound/read better.

Like that:

public function translate($string)
{
    return Zend_Registry::get('Zend_Translate')->translate($string);
}

I could call it an adapter but that’s kind of reserved for the Adapter design pattern.

Answer 1

It’s called the Facade design pattern. Usually reserved for interfaces and systems, but there’s no reason why it doesn’t equally apply to individual functions.

Adapter and Facade are both wrappers;
but they are different kinds of
wrappers. The intent of Facade is to
produce a simpler interface, and the
intent of Adapter is to design to an
existing interface

Hmm, so maybe it is an Adapter 🙂

Personally, I try not to worry too much about what formal definition (if such a thing truly exists for software design) and worry more whether the words I use sufficiently communicate my intent to someone else who’s reading. If you say adapter and we understand what’s going on, then that’s all fine.