abstract class in java with example

An abstract class is a class, that is declared as abstract. Abstract class contains 0 or more abstract methods. Abstract classes can not be instantiated but that can be sub classed.

          An abstract method is a methods that is declared without any implementation. Like this,

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abstract class Car { abstract void show(); }

          •  A class with abstract methods is called abstract class. The both abstract method and abstract class must be declared with abstract.

          •  In case where you want to use implementation inheritance then it is usually provided by an abstract base class. Abstract classes are excellent candidates inside of application frameworks.

          •  Abstract classes let you define some default behavior and force sub-classes to provide any specific behavior.

         

          Here is the abstract class example with abstract methods as well as concrete methods.

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package com.javatbrains.abstractclass; abstract class Car { // every car will have a regno; int regno; // to store regno value Car(int no) { regno = no; } /* * Every car will have a fuel tank. The mechanism to fill the tank is same * for all cars */ void fillTank() { System.out.println("Take the key and fill tank"); } /* * Every car will have steering. But different cars will have different * steering mechanism */ abstract void steering(int direction); /* * Every car will have breaks. But different cars will have different * breaking mechanism */ abstract void breaking(int force); }

          Here we will create another concrete class name called Maruti. This class is the sub class of the above abstract class Car.

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package com.javatbrains.abstractclass; class Maruti extends Car { Maruti(int no) { super(no); } @Override void steering(int direction) { System.out.println("Maruti uses manual steering. Please drive the car"); } @Override void breaking(int force) { System.out .println("Maruthi uses hydraulic breakes. Apply breakes to stop the car"); } }

          Here is the another concrete class name called Santro. This is also the sub class of the abstract class Car.

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package com.javatbrains.abstractclass; class Santro extends Car { Santro(int no) { super(no); } @Override void steering(int direction) { System.out.println("Santro uses power steering. Start the car"); } @Override void breaking(int force) { System.out.println("Santro uses gas breakes. Apply breakes to stop the car"); } }

          Now, here we will write a class to all the above classes name called UseCar.

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package com.javatbrains.abstractclass; public class UseCar { public static void main(String[] args) { // Take new Maruti and Santro cars Maruti ma = new Maruti(1234); Santro sa = new Santro(007); // create a reference to car class Car car = ma; // (or) Car car = sa; // now use it car.fillTank(); car.steering(10); car.breaking(20); } } OutPut: Take the key and fill tank Maruti uses manual steering. Please drive the car Maruthi uses hydraulic breakes. Apply breakes to stop the car

Key points of Abstract class:

           •  An abstract class is a class with 0 or more abstract methods

           •   An abstract class can have variables, concrete methods and abstract methods.

           •  we cannot create an object to abstract class. But we can create a reference variable to abstract class.

           •   All the abstract methods of the abstract class should be implemented in its sub class.

           •  If an abstract method is not implemented then the sub class should be declared as abstract.

           •   The reference of abstract super class can not refer to the individual methods of the sub class.

           •   The abstract class can not be both abstract and final.

           •   An abstract class must be sub classed.

           •  An abstract class will have constructors, and those constructors are always called when a concrete sub class is instantiated.

         

          If you want to read about the interface with examples. Click Here.

When should you use, abstract class or interfaces?

            •   Consider using abstract classes if any of these statements apply to your situation:

        1. You want to share code among with several closely related classes.

        2. You expect that classes that extend your abstract class have many common methods or fields, or require access modifiers other than public.

       3. You want to declare non-static or non-final fields. This enables you to define methods that can access and modify the state of the object to which they belong.

           •  Consider using interface, if any of these statements apply to your situation:

       1. You expect that unrelated classes would implements your interface. For example, interfaces comparable and cloneable are implements many unrelated classes.

       2. You want to specify the particular behaviour of a data type, but not concerned about who implements its behaviour.

       3. You want to take advantage of multiple inheritance of type.

Do you know?

• Object Oriented Programming (Oops) in java
• Inheritance in java
• Polymorphism in java
• Interfaces in java
• Arrays in java