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An abstract class is the class which is declared abstract and can have abstract or non abstract methods. An abstract class can not be instantiated. It can be extended by subclass to implement abstract methods and either use or override concrete methods.
Abstract method in java
Abstract method is the method which do not have implementation i.e. it does not have anybody.
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abstract class Shape{ public abstract double calculateArea(); } |
When do you need abstract class in java?
Let’s understand it with the help of the example. You have Shape class and it has some methods such as draw(), calcualteArea() etc. Drawing a shape is common for all the shapes but calculateArea() is different for each shape.
For example:
For Rectangle, it will be calculated as length * breadth and for circle, it will be pi* radius^2.
So with above behavior, we will implement draw() method in shape class and will create calcualteArea() as abstract method.So if you have some common behaviors and some specific behavior, make your class abstract.
Let’s create a abstract class as Shape and Rectangle, Circle class as concrete classes.
Example of Abstract class in java:
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package org.arpit.java2blog; abstract class Shape{ public void draw() { System.out.println("Draw method in shape class"); } public abstract double calculateArea(); } class Rectangle extends Shape { double length; double breadth; public Rectangle(double length, double breadth) { super(); this.length = length; this.breadth = breadth; } @Override public double calculateArea() { return length*breadth; } } class Circle extends Shape { double radius; public Circle(double radius) { super(); this.radius = radius; } @Override public double calculateArea() { return 3.14*radius*radius; } } |
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package org.arpit.java2blog; public class AbstactClassMain { public static void main(String[] args) { System.out.println("============================"); Rectangle rec=new Rectangle(3, 4); rec.draw(); System.out.println("Area of rectangle is "+rec.calculateArea()); System.out.println("============================"); Circle cir=new Circle(3); cir.draw(); System.out.println("Area of circle is "+cir.calculateArea()); System.out.println("============================"); } } |
Draw method in shape class
Area of rectangle is 12.0
============================
Draw method in shape class
Area of circle is 28.259999999999998
============================
Let’s consider some cases to understand abstract class in java better:
Case 1: Is is possible to have zero abstract method in class but still you can declare class as abstract.
Answer:
Yes, It is possible to declare class as abstract even if you don’t have any abstract method in the class.
For example:
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abstract class Shape{ |
public void draw() { System.out.println(“Draw method in shape class”); } }
Case 2: Class contains abstract method but is it possible to not declare class as Abstract?
Answer:
No, It is mandatory to declare class as Abstract but it contain abstract method.
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class Shape{ public void draw() { System.out.println("Draw method in shape class"); } public abstract double calculateArea(); } |
You will get compilation errors:
- At line 1 : “The type Shape must be an abstract class to define abstract methods”
- At line 7: “The abstract method calculateArea in type Shape can only be defined by an abstract class”
If you have abstract method in class, class must be declared as abstract class in java
Case 3: Can you declare class as final and abstract at the same time?
Answer:
No, you can not declare class as final and abstract at the same time. Final means No other class can extend that class and Abstract means Class must be extended by any other class.
Case 4: Can you instantiate abstract class in java?
Answer:
No, you can not instantiate abstract class.
You can not instantiate abstract class in java
Case 5: If you are extending an abstract class in java, do you need to implement all the abstract methods of that class?
Answer:
Yes, you need to implement all the abstract method of superclass unless and until subclass is also an abstract class in java.
That’s all about abstract class in java.
