What is the difference between an interface and abstract class?












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What exactly is the difference between an interface and abstract class?










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    This is an extremely common interview question. It's surprising since an abstract class is rarely used in solutions compared to other things. Your question has helped me Safraz.

    – Catto
    Feb 28 '14 at 2:34






  • 4





    This question might also help to understand the concept of interfaces stackoverflow.com/q/8531292/1055241

    – gprathour
    Jul 7 '14 at 5:28






  • 3





    I've removed the PHP tag form this question, since almost none of the answer are language specific, and the question itself is not language specific.

    – brice
    Feb 2 '17 at 17:41
















1594















What exactly is the difference between an interface and abstract class?










share|improve this question




















  • 84





    This is an extremely common interview question. It's surprising since an abstract class is rarely used in solutions compared to other things. Your question has helped me Safraz.

    – Catto
    Feb 28 '14 at 2:34






  • 4





    This question might also help to understand the concept of interfaces stackoverflow.com/q/8531292/1055241

    – gprathour
    Jul 7 '14 at 5:28






  • 3





    I've removed the PHP tag form this question, since almost none of the answer are language specific, and the question itself is not language specific.

    – brice
    Feb 2 '17 at 17:41














1594












1594








1594


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What exactly is the difference between an interface and abstract class?










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What exactly is the difference between an interface and abstract class?







oop interface abstract-class






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edited Feb 2 '17 at 17:36









brice

16.7k66585




16.7k66585










asked Dec 16 '09 at 8:15









SarfrazSarfraz

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  • 84





    This is an extremely common interview question. It's surprising since an abstract class is rarely used in solutions compared to other things. Your question has helped me Safraz.

    – Catto
    Feb 28 '14 at 2:34






  • 4





    This question might also help to understand the concept of interfaces stackoverflow.com/q/8531292/1055241

    – gprathour
    Jul 7 '14 at 5:28






  • 3





    I've removed the PHP tag form this question, since almost none of the answer are language specific, and the question itself is not language specific.

    – brice
    Feb 2 '17 at 17:41














  • 84





    This is an extremely common interview question. It's surprising since an abstract class is rarely used in solutions compared to other things. Your question has helped me Safraz.

    – Catto
    Feb 28 '14 at 2:34






  • 4





    This question might also help to understand the concept of interfaces stackoverflow.com/q/8531292/1055241

    – gprathour
    Jul 7 '14 at 5:28






  • 3





    I've removed the PHP tag form this question, since almost none of the answer are language specific, and the question itself is not language specific.

    – brice
    Feb 2 '17 at 17:41








84




84





This is an extremely common interview question. It's surprising since an abstract class is rarely used in solutions compared to other things. Your question has helped me Safraz.

– Catto
Feb 28 '14 at 2:34





This is an extremely common interview question. It's surprising since an abstract class is rarely used in solutions compared to other things. Your question has helped me Safraz.

– Catto
Feb 28 '14 at 2:34




4




4





This question might also help to understand the concept of interfaces stackoverflow.com/q/8531292/1055241

– gprathour
Jul 7 '14 at 5:28





This question might also help to understand the concept of interfaces stackoverflow.com/q/8531292/1055241

– gprathour
Jul 7 '14 at 5:28




3




3





I've removed the PHP tag form this question, since almost none of the answer are language specific, and the question itself is not language specific.

– brice
Feb 2 '17 at 17:41





I've removed the PHP tag form this question, since almost none of the answer are language specific, and the question itself is not language specific.

– brice
Feb 2 '17 at 17:41












34 Answers
34






active

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2078














Interfaces



An interface is a contract: The person writing the interface says, "hey, I accept things looking that way", and the person using the interface says "OK, the class I write looks that way".



An interface is an empty shell. There are only the signatures of the methods, which implies that the methods do not have a body. The interface can't do anything. It's just a pattern.



For example (pseudo code):



// I say all motor vehicles should look like this:
interface MotorVehicle
{
void run();

int getFuel();
}

// My team mate complies and writes vehicle looking that way
class Car implements MotorVehicle
{

int fuel;

void run()
{
print("Wrroooooooom");
}


int getFuel()
{
return this.fuel;
}
}


Implementing an interface consumes very little CPU, because it's not a class, just a bunch of names, and therefore there isn't any expensive look-up to do. It's great when it matters, such as in embedded devices.





Abstract classes



Abstract classes, unlike interfaces, are classes. They are more expensive to use, because there is a look-up to do when you inherit from them.



Abstract classes look a lot like interfaces, but they have something more: You can define a behavior for them. It's more about a person saying, "these classes should look like that, and they have that in common, so fill in the blanks!".



For example:



// I say all motor vehicles should look like this:
abstract class MotorVehicle
{

int fuel;

// They ALL have fuel, so lets implement this for everybody.
int getFuel()
{
return this.fuel;
}

// That can be very different, force them to provide their
// own implementation.
abstract void run();
}

// My teammate complies and writes vehicle looking that way
class Car extends MotorVehicle
{
void run()
{
print("Wrroooooooom");
}
}




Implementation



While abstract classes and interfaces are supposed to be different concepts, the implementations make that statement sometimes untrue. Sometimes, they are not even what you think they are.



In Java, this rule is strongly enforced, while in PHP, interfaces are abstract classes with no method declared.



In Python, abstract classes are more a programming trick you can get from the ABC module and is actually using metaclasses, and therefore classes. And interfaces are more related to duck typing in this language and it's a mix between conventions and special methods that call descriptors (the __method__ methods).



As usual with programming, there is theory, practice, and practice in another language :-)






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  • 5





    The key point about interfaces is not so much that they say what a class does, but allow objects that can Wizzle to make themselves useful to code that needs a Wizzler. Note that in many cases neither the person who writes the thing that can Wizzle, nor the person who needs a Wizzler, will be the person who writes the interface.

    – supercat
    Mar 27 '13 at 21:28






  • 153





    I don't think that CPU consumption is the highlight-worthy point on interfaces.

    – Dan Lugg
    Sep 11 '13 at 21:40






  • 3





    @e-satis Can you please explain your point on CPU utilization? Why does abstract class being a class increase CPU utilization? What kind of lookup are you referring to here?

    – Geek
    Apr 24 '14 at 13:18






  • 29





    @e-satis With Java 8, you can define default methods in interfaces which is the equivalent of having non-abstract methods in abstract classes. With this addition, I can no longer see the real difference between abstract classes and interface besides the fact that I should use interfaces because classes can implement multiple interfaces but can only inherit one class

    – Ogen
    Oct 31 '15 at 1:34






  • 17





    I think the comparison between interface and class from Head First Java is vivid that A class defines who you are, and an interface tells what roles you could play

    – LittleLittleQ
    Jul 11 '16 at 6:43





















814














The key technical differences between an abstract class and an interface are:




  • Abstract classes can have constants, members, method stubs (methods without a body) and defined methods, whereas interfaces can only have constants and methods stubs.


  • Methods and members of an abstract class can be defined with any visibility, whereas all methods of an interface must be defined as public (they are defined public by default).


  • When inheriting an abstract class, a concrete child class must define the abstract methods, whereas an abstract class can extend another abstract class and abstract methods from the parent class don't have to be defined.


  • Similarly, an interface extending another interface is not responsible for implementing methods from the parent interface. This is because interfaces cannot define any implementation.


  • A child class can only extend a single class (abstract or concrete), whereas an interface can extend or a class can implement multiple other interfaces.


  • A child class can define abstract methods with the same or less restrictive visibility, whereas a class implementing an interface must define the methods with the exact same visibility (public).







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  • 112





    i think this is the best answer because it highlights all of the key differences. an example's not really necessary.

    – Joshua K
    Jul 10 '11 at 18:01






  • 4





    And normally with classes you can instantiate an object from it unlike the abstract classes which CANNOT be instantiated.

    – SASM
    Jul 9 '13 at 20:48











  • I thought a class that implement the interface need to define all the methods in the interface?

    – Jiazzy user
    Dec 27 '13 at 12:33











  • @Jiazzyuser If an abstract class implements an interface, it does not have to actually define the interface's methods. That requirement can be deferred to inheriting/child concrete classes. However, a concrete class must implement all interface methods that are not implemented by its parent class. I'll add example to illustrate this point.

    – Justin Johnson
    Jan 28 '14 at 20:44








  • 4





    "When inheriting an abstract class, the child class must define the abstract methods, whereas an interface can extend another interface and methods don't have to be defined." - This is not true. Just as an interface can extend an interface without defining methods, an abstract class can inherit an abstract class without defining methods.

    – Nick
    Mar 10 '14 at 17:21





















123














An Interface contains only the definition / signature of functionality, and if we have some common functionality as well as common signatures, then we need to use an abstract class. By using an abstract class, we can provide behavior as well as functionality both in the same time. Another developer inheriting abstract class can use this functionality easily, as they would only need to fill in the blanks.



enter image description here
Taken from:



http://www.dotnetbull.com/2011/11/difference-between-abstract-class-and.html



http://www.dotnetbull.com/2011/11/what-is-abstract-class-in-c-net.html
http://www.dotnetbull.com/2011/11/what-is-interface-in-c-net.html






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  • 10





    You need to say what language this applies to ("Abstract class does not support multiple inheritance" is far from being universally true)

    – Ben Voigt
    Mar 7 '14 at 4:16













  • Last comparison is confusing as per table! Methods in interface can't be static but variables are static final Implemented methods in abstract class can be static

    – realPK
    Mar 9 '14 at 4:29






  • 1





    Typo it not Cunstructor .. Its Constructor..

    – Pra Jazz
    Jul 18 '14 at 10:57






  • 6





    Member of the interface must be static final . Last statement is wrong.

    – Xar E Ahmer
    Aug 5 '14 at 8:21






  • 1





    What is the targetted programming language here? C#?

    – Peter Mortensen
    Nov 20 '16 at 14:26



















77














An explanation can be found here: http://www.developer.com/lang/php/article.php/3604111/PHP-5-OOP-Interfaces-Abstract-Classes-and-the-Adapter-Pattern.htm




An abstract class is a class that is
only partially implemented by the
programmer. It may contain one or more
abstract methods. An abstract method
is simply a function definition that
serves to tell the programmer that the
method must be implemented in a child
class.



An interface is similar to an abstract
class; indeed interfaces occupy the
same namespace as classes and abstract
classes. For that reason, you cannot
define an interface with the same name
as a class. An interface is a fully
abstract class; none of its methods
are implemented and instead of a class
sub-classing from it, it is said to
implement that interface.




Anyway I find this explanation of interfaces somewhat confusing. A more common definition is: An interface defines a contract that implementing classes must fulfill. An interface definition consists of signatures of public members, without any implementing code.






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  • 4





    This is the most correct answer, since PHP interfaces differ from other languages in that PHP interfaces ARE abstract classes under the hood, whereas other languages' interfaces are signatures that classes must match. They behave the same as long as there are no errors though.

    – Tor Valamo
    Dec 16 '09 at 8:55






  • 1





    True, for PHP it's the real best anwser. But it's harder to get from the text blob than from a simple snippet.

    – e-satis
    Dec 16 '09 at 12:15











  • From the definitions you provided, they look the same except for one detail: and interface is 100% abstract, while an abstract class is partially abstract and can have some method implementations (perhaps all methods can have implementations?).

    – jww
    Aug 23 '14 at 4:02



















37














Some important differences:



In the form of a table:



Difference



As stated by Joe from javapapers:




1.Main difference is methods of a Java interface are implicitly abstract and cannot have implementations. A Java abstract class can
have instance methods that implements a default behavior.



2.Variables declared in a Java interface is by default final. An abstract class may contain non-final variables.



3.Members of a Java interface are public by default. A Java abstract class can have the usual flavors of class members like private,
protected, etc..



4.Java interface should be implemented using keyword “implements”; A Java abstract class should be extended using keyword “extends”.



5.An interface can extend another Java interface only, an abstract class can extend another Java class and implement multiple Java
interfaces.



6.A Java class can implement multiple interfaces but it can extend only one abstract class.



7.Interface is absolutely abstract and cannot be instantiated; A Java abstract class also cannot be instantiated, but can be invoked if a
main() exists.



8.In comparison with java abstract classes, java interfaces are slow as it requires extra indirection.







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  • 3





    I've edited your answer to provide correct attribution. You can't just drop a link at the bottom of your answer. You need to quote all of the language that was copied from another source, as well. Also, if that table was drawn from somewhere, you should clearly indicate where that is from.

    – Brad Larson
    Oct 14 '13 at 19:54











  • Please mention for C++ as well.. though there is no keyword "interface" in C++ as such, but its a commonly asked Qn regd C++ as well.

    – cbinder
    Jun 18 '14 at 4:52











  • @cbinder : There is no keyword 'interface' in c++. For difference in c++, please refer 1. tutorialspoint.com/cplusplus/cpp_interfaces.htm 2. tutorialspoint.com/cplusplus/cpp_interfaces.htm

    – softmage99
    Jun 18 '14 at 9:34











  • @MageshBabu Perhaps defining a function in a class containing pure virtual function makes it an abstract class rather than the interface

    – cbinder
    Jun 19 '14 at 9:52






  • 2





    With Java 8, the differences are less now. Check updated differences here: journaldev.com/1607/…

    – Pankaj
    Jul 15 '14 at 17:28



















35














I don't want to highlight the differences, which have been already said in many answers ( regarding public static final modifiers for variables in interface & support for protected, private methods in abstract classes)



In simple terms, I would like to say:



interface: To implement a contract by multiple unrelated objects



abstract class: To implement the same or different behaviour among multiple related objects



From the Oracle documentation



Consider using abstract classes if :




  1. You want to share code among 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 (such as protected and private).

  3. You want to declare non-static or non-final fields.


Consider using interfaces if :




  1. You expect that unrelated classes would implement your interface. For example,many unrelated objects can implement Serializable interface.

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

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


abstract class establishes "is a" relation with concrete classes. interface provides "has a" capability for classes.



If you are looking for Java as programming language, here are a few more updates:



Java 8 has reduced the gap between interface and abstract classes to some extent by providing a default method feature. An interface does not have an implementation for a method is no longer valid now.



Refer to this documentation page for more details.



Have a look at this SE question for code examples to understand better.



How should I have explained the difference between an Interface and an Abstract class?






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    27














    The main point is that:





    • Abstract is object oriented. It offers the basic data an 'object' should have and/or functions it should be able to do. It is concerned with the object's basic characteristics: what it has and what it can do. Hence objects which inherit from the same abstract class share the basic characteristics (generalization).


    • Interface is functionality oriented. It defines functionalities an object should have. Regardless what object it is, as long as it can do these functionalities, which are defined in the interface, it's fine. It ignores everything else. An object/class can contain several (groups of) functionalities; hence it is possible for a class to implement multiple interfaces.






    share|improve this answer


























    • Thank you now we are getting somewhere with a good high level response. Funny how far deep into the comments you have to go to find a more understanding-based response.

      – Andrew
      Jan 16 '17 at 22:51













    • The other answers are too technical. This is getting towards what I would feel is a 'right' answer. The whole point of OOP is semantics, and whether or not a private nested classes public getters are invoked through CPU expensive lookups is pretty much irrelevant here

      – Sentinel
      Mar 6 '17 at 21:41





















    24














    I am constructing a building of 300 floors



    The building's blueprint interface




    • For example, Servlet(I)


    Building constructed up to 200 floors - partially completed---abstract




    • Partial implementation, for example, generic and HTTP servlet


    Building construction completed-concrete




    • Full implementation, for example, own servlet


    Interface




    • We don't know anything about implementation, just requirements. We can
      go for an interface.

    • Every method is public and abstract by default

    • It is a 100% pure abstract class

    • If we declare public we cannot declare private and protected

    • If we declare abstract we cannot declare final, static, synchronized, strictfp and native

    • Every interface has public, static and final

    • Serialization and transient is not applicable, because we can't create an instance for in interface

    • Non-volatile because it is final

    • Every variable is static

    • When we declare a variable inside an interface we need to initialize variables while declaring

    • Instance and static block not allowed


    Abstract




    • Partial implementation

    • It has an abstract method. An addition, it uses concrete

    • No restriction for abstract class method modifiers

    • No restriction for abstract class variable modifiers

    • We cannot declare other modifiers except abstract

    • No restriction to initialize variables


    Taken from DurgaJobs Website






    share|improve this answer


























    • An abstract class can have a constructor

      – vimal krishna
      Jul 26 '17 at 8:33






    • 3





      I completely disagree with this view. The blueprint is a completely different concept to 'interface.' Blueprint is more analogous to a static model or design specification for a specific implementation. It is closer to 'class,' as the blueprint can be instantiated multiple times through its constructor, but even this is not close enough as the 'class' also contains the specification for how to construct (the ctor), and the means to do so. Interface as a concept is intended to represent some behavior, such as Heat Up/ Cool Down, that can be applied to arange of things, eg: buildings, ovens, etc

      – Sentinel
      Sep 18 '17 at 7:48



















    23














    When you want to provide polymorphic behaviour in an inheritance hierarchy, use abstract classes.



    When you want polymorphic behaviour for classes which are completely unrelated, use an interface.






    share|improve this answer

































      18














      Let's work on this question again:



      The first thing to let you know is that 1/1 and 1*1 results in the same, but it does not mean that multiplication and division are same. Obviously, they hold some good relationship, but mind you both are different.



      I will point out main differences, and the rest have already been explained:



      Abstract classes are useful for modeling a class hierarchy. At first glance of any requirement, we are partially clear on what exactly is to be built, but we know what to build. And so your abstract classes are your base classes.



      Interfaces are useful for letting other hierarchy or classes to know that what I am capable of doing. And when you say I am capable of something, you must have that capacity. Interfaces will mark it as compulsory for a class to implement the same functionalities.






      share|improve this answer


























      • Good answer, but the math metaphor is useless and made me waste roughly an equivalent amount of time reading it as writing this comment. Now multiply that by all the other people that have read this question.

        – Andrew
        Jan 16 '17 at 22:49











      • " math metaphor is useless" , why do you think so ?

        – Dhananjay
        Mar 16 '17 at 17:01



















      12














      It's pretty simple actually.



      You can think of an interface as a class which is only allowed to have abstract methods and nothing else.



      So an interface can only "declare" and not define the behavior you want the class to have.



      An abstract class allows you to do both declare (using abstract methods) as well as define (using full method implementations) the behavior you want the class to have.



      And a regular class only allows you to define, not declare, the behavior/actions you want the class to have.



      One last thing,



      In Java, you can implement multiple interfaces, but you can only extend one (Abstract Class or Class)...



      This means inheritance of defined behavior is restricted to only allow one per class... ie if you wanted a class that encapsulated behavior from Classes A,B&C you would need to do the following: Class A extends B, Class C extends A .. its a bit of a round about way to have multiple inheritance...



      Interfaces on the other hand, you could simply do: interface C implements A, B



      So in effect Java supports multiple inheritance only in "declared behavior" ie interfaces, and only single inheritance with defined behavior.. unless you do the round about way I described...



      Hopefully that makes sense.






      share|improve this answer

































        10














        The comparison of interface vs. abstract class is wrong. There should be two other comparisons instead: 1) interface vs. class and 2) abstract vs. final class.



        Interface vs Class



        Interface is a contract between two objects. E.g., I'm a Postman and you're a Package to deliver. I expect you to know your delivery address. When someone gives me a Package, it has to know its delivery address:



        interface Package {
        String address();
        }


        Class is a group of objects that obey the contract. E.g., I'm a box from "Box" group and I obey the contract required by the Postman. At the same time I obey other contracts:



        class Box implements Package, Property {
        @Override
        String address() {
        return "5th Street, New York, NY";
        }
        @Override
        Human owner() {
        // this method is part of another contract
        }
        }


        Abstract vs Final



        Abstract class is a group of incomplete objects. They can't be used, because they miss some parts. E.g., I'm an abstract GPS-aware box - I know how to check my position on the map:



        abstract class GpsBox implements Package {
        @Override
        public abstract String address();
        protected Coordinates whereAmI() {
        // connect to GPS and return my current position
        }
        }


        This class, if inherited/extended by another class, can be very useful. But by itself - it is useless, since it can't have objects. Abstract classes can be building elements of final classes.



        Final class is a group of complete objects, which can be used, but can't be modified. They know exactly how to work and what to do. E.g., I'm a Box that always goes to the address specified during its construction:



        final class DirectBox implements Package {
        private final String to;
        public DirectBox(String addr) {
        this.to = addr;
        }
        @Override
        public String address() {
        return this.to;
        }
        }


        In most languages, like Java or C++, it is possible to have just a class, neither abstract nor final. Such a class can be inherited and can be instantiated. I don't think this is strictly in line with object-oriented paradigm, though.



        Again, comparing interfaces with abstract classes is not correct.






        share|improve this answer































          9














          The only difference is that one can participate in multiple inheritance and other cannot.



          The definition of an interface has changed over time. Do you think an interface just has method declarations only and are just contracts? What about static final variables and what about default definitions after Java 8?



          Interfaces were introduced to Java because of the diamond problem with multiple inheritance and that's what they actually intend to do.



          Interfaces are the constructs that were created to get away with the multiple inheritance problem and can have abstract methods, default definitions and static final variables.



          See Why does Java allow static final variables in interfaces when they are only intended to be contracts?.






          share|improve this answer

































            8














            In short the differences are the following:



            Syntactical Differences Between Interface and Abstract Class:




            1. Methods and members of an abstract class can have any visibility. All methods of an interface must be public. //Does not hold true from Java 9 anymore

            2. A concrete child class of an Abstract Class must define all the abstract methods. An Abstract child class can have abstract methods. An interface extending another interface need not provide default implementation for methods inherited from the parent interface.

            3. A child class can only extend a single class. An interface can extend multiple interfaces. A class can implement multiple interfaces.

            4. A child class can define abstract methods with the same or less restrictive visibility, whereas class implementing an interface must define all interface methods as public.


            5. Abstract Classes can have constructors but not interfaces.

            6. Interfaces from Java 9 have private static methods.


            In Interfaces now:



            public static - supported
            public abstract - supported
            public default - supported
            private static - supported
            private abstract - compile error
            private default - compile error
            private - supported






            share|improve this answer

































              7














              Interface: Turn ( Turn Left, Turn Right.)



              Abstract Class: Wheel.



              Class: Steering Wheel, derives from Wheel, exposes Interface Turn



              One is for categorizing behavior that can be offered across a diverse range of things, the other is for modelling an ontology of things.






              share|improve this answer































                6














                If you have some common methods that can be used by multiple classes go for abstract classes.
                Else if you want the classes to follow some definite blueprint go for interfaces.



                Following examples demonstrate this.



                Abstract class in Java:



                abstract class animals
                {
                // They all love to eat. So let's implement them for everybody
                void eat()
                {
                System.out.println("Eating...");
                }
                // The make different sounds. They will provide their own implementation.
                abstract void sound();
                }

                class dog extends animals
                {
                void sound()
                {
                System.out.println("Woof Woof");
                }
                }

                class cat extends animals
                {
                void sound()
                {
                System.out.println("Meoww");
                }
                }


                Following is an implementation of interface in Java:



                interface Shape
                {
                void display();
                double area();
                }

                class Rectangle implements Shape
                {
                int length, width;
                Rectangle(int length, int width)
                {
                this.length = length;
                this.width = width;
                }
                @Override
                public void display()
                {
                System.out.println("****n* *n* *n****");
                }
                @Override
                public double area()
                {
                return (double)(length*width);
                }
                }

                class Circle implements Shape
                {
                double pi = 3.14;
                int radius;
                Circle(int radius)
                {
                this.radius = radius;
                }
                @Override
                public void display()
                {
                System.out.println("O"); // :P
                }
                @Override
                public double area()
                {
                return (double)((pi*radius*radius)/2);
                }
                }


                Some Important Key points in a nutshell:




                1. The variables declared in Java interface are by default final. Abstract classes can have non-final variables.


                2. The variables declared in Java interface are by default static. Abstract classes can have non-static variables.


                3. Members of a Java interface are public by default. A Java abstract class can have the usual flavors of class members like private, protected, etc..







                share|improve this answer

































                  4














                  Not really the answer to the original question, but once you have the answer to the difference between them, you will enter the when-to-use-each dilemma:
                  When to use interfaces or abstract classes? When to use both?



                  I've limited knowledge of OOP, but seeing interfaces as an equivalent of an adjective in grammar has worked for me until now (correct me if this method is bogus!). For example, interface names are like attributes or capabilities you can give to a class, and a class can have many of them: ISerializable, ICountable, IList, ICacheable, IHappy, ...






                  share|improve this answer

































                    3














                    Inheritance is used for two purposes:




                    • To allow an object to regard parent-type data members and method implementations as its own.


                    • To allow a reference to an objects of one type to be used by code which expects a reference to supertype object.



                    In languages/frameworks which support generalized multiple inheritance, there is often little need to classify a type as either being an "interface" or an "abstract class". Popular languages and frameworks, however, will allow a type to regard one other type's data members or method implementations as its own even though they allow a type to be substitutable for an arbitrary number of other types.



                    Abstract classes may have data members and method implementations, but can only be inherited by classes which don't inherit from any other classes. Interfaces put almost no restrictions on the types which implement them, but cannot include any data members or method implementations.



                    There are times when it's useful for types to be substitutable for many different things; there are other times when it's useful for objects to regard parent-type data members and method implementations as their own. Making a distinction between interfaces and abstract classes allows each of those abilities to be used in cases where it is most relevant.






                    share|improve this answer































                      3














                      Key Points:




                      • Abstract class can have property, Data fields ,Methods (complete /
                        incomplete) both.

                      • If method or Properties define in abstract keyword that must override in derived class.(its work as a tightly coupled
                        functionality)

                      • If define abstract keyword for method or properties in abstract class you can not define body of method and get/set value for
                        properties and that must override in derived class.

                      • Abstract class does not support multiple inheritance.

                      • Abstract class contains Constructors.

                      • An abstract class can contain access modifiers for the subs, functions, properties.

                      • Only Complete Member of abstract class can be Static.

                      • An interface can inherit from another interface only and cannot inherit from an abstract class, where as an abstract class can inherit from another abstract class or another interface.


                      Advantage:




                      • It is a kind of contract that forces all the subclasses to carry on the same hierarchies or standards.

                      • If various implementations are of the same kind and use common behavior or status then abstract class is better to use.

                      • If we add a new method to an abstract class then we have the option of providing default implementation and therefore all the existing code might work properly.

                      • Its allow fast execution than interface.(interface Requires more time to find the actual method in the corresponding classes.)

                      • It can use for tight and loosely coupling.


                      find details here...
                      http://pradeepatkari.wordpress.com/2014/11/20/interface-and-abstract-class-in-c-oops/






                      share|improve this answer

































                        3














                        The shortest way to sum it up is that an interface is:




                        1. Fully abstract, apart from default and static methods; while it has definitions (method signatures + implementations) for default and static methods, it only has declarations (method signatures) for other methods.

                        2. Subject to laxer rules than classes (a class can implement multiple interfaces, and an interface can inherit from multiple interfaces). All variables are implicitly constant, whether specified as public static final or not. All members are implicitly public, whether specified as such or not.

                        3. Generally used as a guarantee that the implementing class will have the specified features and/or be compatible with any other class which implements the same interface.


                        Meanwhile, an abstract class is:




                        1. Anywhere from fully abstract to fully implemented, with a tendency to have one or more abstract methods. Can contain both declarations and definitions, with declarations marked as abstract.

                        2. A full-fledged class, and subject to the rules that govern other classes (can only inherit from one class), on the condition that it cannot be instantiated (because there's no guarantee that it's fully implemented). Can have non-constant member variables. Can implement member access control, restricting members as protected, private, or private package (unspecified).

                        3. Generally used either to provide as much of the implementation as can be shared by multiple subclasses, or to provide as much of the implementation as the programmer is able to supply.


                        Or, if we want to boil it all down to a single sentence: An interface is what the implementing class has, but an abstract class is what the subclass is.






                        share|improve this answer































                          3














                          Many junior developers make the mistake of thinking of interfaces, abstract and concrete classes as slight variations of the same thing, and choose one of them purely on technical grounds: Do I need multiple inheritance? Do I need some place to put common methods? Do I need to bother with something other than just a concrete class? This is wrong, and hidden in these questions is the main problem: "I". When you write code for yourself, by yourself, you rarely think of other present or future developers working on or with your code.



                          Interfaces and abstract classes, although apparently similar from a technical point of view, have completely different meanings and purposes.



                          Summary




                          1. An interface defines a contract that some implementation will fulfill for you.


                          2. An abstract class provides a default behavior that your implementation can reuse.



                          Alternative summary




                          1. An interface is for defining public APIs

                          2. An abstract class is for internal use, and for defining SPIs


                          On the importance of hiding implementation details



                          A concrete class does the actual work, in a very specific way. For example, an ArrayList uses a contiguous area of memory to store a list of objects in a compact manner which offers fast random access, iteration, and in-place changes, but is terrible at insertions, deletions, and occasionally even additions; meanwhile, a LinkedList uses double-linked nodes to store a list of objects, which instead offers fast iteration, in-place changes, and insertion/deletion/addition, but is terrible at random access. These two types of lists are optimized for different use cases, and it matters a lot how you're going to use them. When you're trying to squeeze performance out of a list that you're heavily interacting with, and when picking the type of list is up to you, you should carefully pick which one you're instantiating.



                          On the other hand, high level users of a list don't really care how it is actually implemented, and they should be insulated from these details. Let's imagine that Java didn't expose the List interface, but only had a concrete List class that's actually what LinkedList is right now. All Java developers would have tailored their code to fit the implementation details: avoid random access, add a cache to speed up access, or just reimplement ArrayList on their own, although it would be incompatible with all the other code that actually works with List only. That would be terrible... But now imagine that the Java masters actually realize that a linked list is terrible for most actual use cases, and decided to switch over to an array list for their only List class available. This would affect the performance of every Java program in the world, and people wouldn't be happy about it. And the main culprit is that implementation details were available, and the developers assumed that those details are a permanent contract that they can rely on. This is why it's important to hide implementation details, and only define an abstract contract. This is the purpose of an interface: define what kind of input a method accepts, and what kind of output is expected, without exposing all the guts that would tempt programmers to tweak their code to fit the internal details that might change with any future update.



                          An abstract class is in the middle between interfaces and concrete classes. It is supposed to help implementations share common or boring code. For example, AbstractCollection provides basic implementations for isEmpty based on size is 0, contains as iterate and compare, addAll as repeated add, and so on. This lets implementations focus on the crucial parts that differentiate between them: how to actually store and retrieve data.



                          APIs versus SPIs



                          Interfaces are low-cohesion gateways between different parts of code. They allow libraries to exist and evolve without breaking every library user when something changes internally. It's called Application Programming Interface, not Application Programming Classes. On a smaller scale, they also allow multiple developers to collaborate successfully on large scale projects, by separating different modules through well documented interfaces.



                          Abstract classes are high-cohesion helpers to be used when implementing an interface, assuming some level of implementation details. Alternatively, abstract classes are used for defining SPIs, Service Provider Interfaces.



                          The difference between an API and an SPI is subtle, but important: for an API, the focus is on who uses it, and for an SPI the focus is on who implements it.



                          Adding methods to an API is easy, all existing users of the API will still compile. Adding methods to an SPI is hard, since every service provider (concrete implementation) will have to implement the new methods. If interfaces are used to define an SPI, a provider will have to release a new version whenever the SPI contract changes. If abstract classes are used instead, new methods could either be defined in terms of existing abstract methods, or as empty throw not implemented exception stubs, which will at least allow an older version of a service implementation to still compile and run.



                          A note on Java 8 and default methods



                          Although Java 8 introduced default methods for interfaces, which makes the line between interfaces and abstract classes even blurrier, this wasn't so that implementations can reuse code, but to make it easier to change interfaces that serve both as an API and as an SPI (or are wrongly used for defining SPIs instead of abstract classes).



                          Which one to use?




                          1. Is the thing supposed to be publicly used by other parts of the code, or by other external code? Add an interface to it to hide the implementation details from the public abstract contract, which is the general behavior of the thing.

                          2. Is the thing something that's supposed to have multiple implementations with a lot of code in common? Make both an interface and an abstract, incomplete implementation.

                          3. Is there ever going to be only one implementation, and nobody else will use it? Just make it a concrete class.


                            1. "ever" is long time, you could play it safe and still add an interface on top of it.




                          A corollary: the other way around is often wrongly done: when using a thing, always try to use the most generic class/interface that you actually need. In other words, don't declare your variables as ArrayList theList = new ArrayList(), unless you actually have a very strong dependency on it being an array list, and no other type of list would cut it for you. Use List theList = new ArrayList instead, or even Collection theCollection = new ArrayList if the fact that it's a list, and not any other type of collection doesn't actually matter.






                          share|improve this answer































                            3














                            By definition, interfaces cannot have an implementation for any methods, and member variables cannot be initialized.



                            However, abstract classes can have methods implementated and member variables initialized.



                            Use abstract classes when you expect changes in your contract, i.e., say in future you might need to add a new method.



                            In this situation, if you decide to use an interface, when the interface is changed to include interface, your application will break when you dumped the new interface dll.



                            To read in detail, visit difference between abstract class and a interface






                            share|improve this answer

































                              3














                              I'd like to add one more difference which makes sense.
                              For example, you have a framework with thousands of lines of code. Now if you want to add a new feature throughout the code using a method enhanceUI(), then it's better to add that method in abstract class rather in interface. Because, if you add this method in an interface then you should implement it in all the implemented class but it's not the case if you add the method in abstract class.






                              share|improve this answer































                                3














                                Differences between abstract class and interface on behalf of real implementation.



                                Interface: It is a keyword and it is used to define the template or blue print of an object and it forces all the sub classes would follow the same prototype,as for as implementation, all the sub classes are free to implement the functionality as per it's requirement.



                                Some of other use cases where we should use interface.



                                Communication between two external objects(Third party integration in our application) done through Interface here Interface works as Contract.



                                Abstract Class: Abstract,it is a keyword and when we use this keyword before any class then it becomes abstract class.It is mainly used when we need to define the template as well as some default functionality of an object that is followed by all the sub classes and this way it removes the redundant code and one more use cases where we can use abstract class, such as we want no other classes can directly instantiate an object of the class, only derived classes can use the functionality.



                                Example of Abstract Class:



                                 public abstract class DesireCar
                                {

                                //It is an abstract method that defines the prototype.
                                public abstract void Color();

                                // It is a default implementation of a Wheel method as all the desire cars have the same no. of wheels.
                                // and hence no need to define this in all the sub classes in this way it saves the code duplicasy

                                public void Wheel() {

                                Console.WriteLine("Car has four wheel");
                                }
                                }


                                **Here is the sub classes:**

                                public class DesireCar1 : DesireCar
                                {
                                public override void Color()
                                {
                                Console.WriteLine("This is a red color Desire car");
                                }
                                }

                                public class DesireCar2 : DesireCar
                                {
                                public override void Color()
                                {
                                Console.WriteLine("This is a red white Desire car");
                                }
                                }


                                Example Of Interface:



                                  public interface IShape
                                {
                                // Defines the prototype(template)
                                void Draw();
                                }


                                // All the sub classes follow the same template but implementation can be different.

                                public class Circle : IShape
                                {
                                public void Draw()
                                {
                                Console.WriteLine("This is a Circle");
                                }
                                }

                                public class Rectangle : IShape
                                {
                                public void Draw()
                                {
                                Console.WriteLine("This is a Rectangle");
                                }
                                }





                                share|improve this answer

































                                  3














                                  You can find clear difference between interface and abstract class.



                                  Interface




                                  • Interface only contains abstract methods.

                                  • Force users to implement all methods when implements the interface.

                                  • Contains only final and static variables.

                                  • Declare using interface keyword.

                                  • All methods of an interface must be defined as public.

                                  • An interface can extend or a class can implement multiple other
                                    interfaces.


                                  Abstract class




                                  • Abstract class contains abstract and non-abstract methods.


                                  • Does not force users to implement all methods when inherited the
                                    abstract class.


                                  • Contains all kinds of variables including primitive and non-primitive


                                  • Declare using abstract keyword.


                                  • Methods and members of an abstract class can be defined with any
                                    visibility.


                                  • A child class can only extend a single class (abstract or concrete).







                                  share|improve this answer































                                    2














                                    An abstract class is a class whose object cannot be created or a class which cannot be instantiated.
                                    An abstract method makes a class abstract.
                                    An abstract class needs to be inherited in order to override the methods that are declared in the abstract class.
                                    No restriction on access specifiers.
                                    An abstract class can have constructor and other concrete(non abstarct methods ) methods in them but interface cannot have.



                                    An interface is a blueprint/template of methods.(eg. A house on a paper is given(interface house) and different architects will use their ideas to build it(the classes of architects implementing the house interface) .
                                    It is a collection of abstract methods , default methods , static methods , final variables and nested classes.
                                    All members will be either final or public , protected and private access specifiers are not allowed.No object creation is allowed.
                                    A class has to be made in order to use the implementing interface and also to override the abstract method declared in the interface. An interface is a good example of loose coupling(dynamic polymorphism/dynamic binding)
                                    An interface implements polymorphism and abstraction.It tells what to do but how to do is defined by the implementing class.
                                    For Eg. There's a car company and it wants that some features to be same for all the car it is manufacturing so for that the company would be making an interface vehicle which will have those features and different classes of car(like Maruti Suzkhi , Maruti 800) will override those features(functions).



                                    Why interface when we already have abstract class?
                                    Java supports only multilevel and hierarchal inheritance but with the help of interface we can implement multiple inheritance.






                                    share|improve this answer

































                                      2














                                      To give a simple but clear answer, it helps to set the context : you use both when you do not want to provide full implementations.



                                      The main difference then is an interface has no implementation at all (only methods without a body) while abstract classes can have members and methods with a body as well, i.e. can be partially implemented.






                                      share|improve this answer
























                                      • Since you answered it just now, your answer does not take into account the default keyword in Java 8 with which you can define concrete methods in interfaces as well.

                                        – philantrovert
                                        Jun 28 '17 at 11:19



















                                      1














                                      enter image description here



                                      Here is a very basic understanding over interface vs abstract class.






                                      share|improve this answer



















                                      • 11





                                        How does this explain the difference? Why couldn't Car/Plane/Boat extend an abstract Vehicle class?

                                        – aioobe
                                        Aug 30 '16 at 6:58






                                      • 3





                                        I don't understand, I even don't agree. It contradicts the answer with maximum votes

                                        – Adib Aroui
                                        Apr 22 '17 at 11:04








                                      • 1





                                        How can this answer get 6 upvotes?

                                        – Pritam Banerjee
                                        Sep 17 '17 at 6:58



















                                      1














                                      In an interface all methods must be only definitions, not single one should be implemented.



                                      But in an abstract class there must an abstract method with only definition, but other methods can be also in the abstract class with implementation...






                                      share|improve this answer

































                                        1














                                        usually Abstract class used for core of something but interface used for appending peripheral.



                                        when you want to create base type for vehicle you should use abstract class but if you want to add some functionality or property that is not part of base concept of vehicle you should use interface,for example you want to add "ToJSON()" function.



                                        interface has wide range of abstraction rather than abstract class.
                                        you can see this in passing arguments.look this example:



                                        enter image description here



                                        if you use vehicle as argument you just can use one of its derived type (bus or car-same category-just vehicle category).
                                        but when you use IMoveable interface as argument you have more choices.






                                        share|improve this answer





























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                                          2078














                                          Interfaces



                                          An interface is a contract: The person writing the interface says, "hey, I accept things looking that way", and the person using the interface says "OK, the class I write looks that way".



                                          An interface is an empty shell. There are only the signatures of the methods, which implies that the methods do not have a body. The interface can't do anything. It's just a pattern.



                                          For example (pseudo code):



                                          // I say all motor vehicles should look like this:
                                          interface MotorVehicle
                                          {
                                          void run();

                                          int getFuel();
                                          }

                                          // My team mate complies and writes vehicle looking that way
                                          class Car implements MotorVehicle
                                          {

                                          int fuel;

                                          void run()
                                          {
                                          print("Wrroooooooom");
                                          }


                                          int getFuel()
                                          {
                                          return this.fuel;
                                          }
                                          }


                                          Implementing an interface consumes very little CPU, because it's not a class, just a bunch of names, and therefore there isn't any expensive look-up to do. It's great when it matters, such as in embedded devices.





                                          Abstract classes



                                          Abstract classes, unlike interfaces, are classes. They are more expensive to use, because there is a look-up to do when you inherit from them.



                                          Abstract classes look a lot like interfaces, but they have something more: You can define a behavior for them. It's more about a person saying, "these classes should look like that, and they have that in common, so fill in the blanks!".



                                          For example:



                                          // I say all motor vehicles should look like this:
                                          abstract class MotorVehicle
                                          {

                                          int fuel;

                                          // They ALL have fuel, so lets implement this for everybody.
                                          int getFuel()
                                          {
                                          return this.fuel;
                                          }

                                          // That can be very different, force them to provide their
                                          // own implementation.
                                          abstract void run();
                                          }

                                          // My teammate complies and writes vehicle looking that way
                                          class Car extends MotorVehicle
                                          {
                                          void run()
                                          {
                                          print("Wrroooooooom");
                                          }
                                          }




                                          Implementation



                                          While abstract classes and interfaces are supposed to be different concepts, the implementations make that statement sometimes untrue. Sometimes, they are not even what you think they are.



                                          In Java, this rule is strongly enforced, while in PHP, interfaces are abstract classes with no method declared.



                                          In Python, abstract classes are more a programming trick you can get from the ABC module and is actually using metaclasses, and therefore classes. And interfaces are more related to duck typing in this language and it's a mix between conventions and special methods that call descriptors (the __method__ methods).



                                          As usual with programming, there is theory, practice, and practice in another language :-)






                                          share|improve this answer





















                                          • 5





                                            The key point about interfaces is not so much that they say what a class does, but allow objects that can Wizzle to make themselves useful to code that needs a Wizzler. Note that in many cases neither the person who writes the thing that can Wizzle, nor the person who needs a Wizzler, will be the person who writes the interface.

                                            – supercat
                                            Mar 27 '13 at 21:28






                                          • 153





                                            I don't think that CPU consumption is the highlight-worthy point on interfaces.

                                            – Dan Lugg
                                            Sep 11 '13 at 21:40






                                          • 3





                                            @e-satis Can you please explain your point on CPU utilization? Why does abstract class being a class increase CPU utilization? What kind of lookup are you referring to here?

                                            – Geek
                                            Apr 24 '14 at 13:18






                                          • 29





                                            @e-satis With Java 8, you can define default methods in interfaces which is the equivalent of having non-abstract methods in abstract classes. With this addition, I can no longer see the real difference between abstract classes and interface besides the fact that I should use interfaces because classes can implement multiple interfaces but can only inherit one class

                                            – Ogen
                                            Oct 31 '15 at 1:34






                                          • 17





                                            I think the comparison between interface and class from Head First Java is vivid that A class defines who you are, and an interface tells what roles you could play

                                            – LittleLittleQ
                                            Jul 11 '16 at 6:43


















                                          2078














                                          Interfaces



                                          An interface is a contract: The person writing the interface says, "hey, I accept things looking that way", and the person using the interface says "OK, the class I write looks that way".



                                          An interface is an empty shell. There are only the signatures of the methods, which implies that the methods do not have a body. The interface can't do anything. It's just a pattern.



                                          For example (pseudo code):



                                          // I say all motor vehicles should look like this:
                                          interface MotorVehicle
                                          {
                                          void run();

                                          int getFuel();
                                          }

                                          // My team mate complies and writes vehicle looking that way
                                          class Car implements MotorVehicle
                                          {

                                          int fuel;

                                          void run()
                                          {
                                          print("Wrroooooooom");
                                          }


                                          int getFuel()
                                          {
                                          return this.fuel;
                                          }
                                          }


                                          Implementing an interface consumes very little CPU, because it's not a class, just a bunch of names, and therefore there isn't any expensive look-up to do. It's great when it matters, such as in embedded devices.





                                          Abstract classes



                                          Abstract classes, unlike interfaces, are classes. They are more expensive to use, because there is a look-up to do when you inherit from them.



                                          Abstract classes look a lot like interfaces, but they have something more: You can define a behavior for them. It's more about a person saying, "these classes should look like that, and they have that in common, so fill in the blanks!".



                                          For example:



                                          // I say all motor vehicles should look like this:
                                          abstract class MotorVehicle
                                          {

                                          int fuel;

                                          // They ALL have fuel, so lets implement this for everybody.
                                          int getFuel()
                                          {
                                          return this.fuel;
                                          }

                                          // That can be very different, force them to provide their
                                          // own implementation.
                                          abstract void run();
                                          }

                                          // My teammate complies and writes vehicle looking that way
                                          class Car extends MotorVehicle
                                          {
                                          void run()
                                          {
                                          print("Wrroooooooom");
                                          }
                                          }




                                          Implementation



                                          While abstract classes and interfaces are supposed to be different concepts, the implementations make that statement sometimes untrue. Sometimes, they are not even what you think they are.



                                          In Java, this rule is strongly enforced, while in PHP, interfaces are abstract classes with no method declared.



                                          In Python, abstract classes are more a programming trick you can get from the ABC module and is actually using metaclasses, and therefore classes. And interfaces are more related to duck typing in this language and it's a mix between conventions and special methods that call descriptors (the __method__ methods).



                                          As usual with programming, there is theory, practice, and practice in another language :-)






                                          share|improve this answer





















                                          • 5





                                            The key point about interfaces is not so much that they say what a class does, but allow objects that can Wizzle to make themselves useful to code that needs a Wizzler. Note that in many cases neither the person who writes the thing that can Wizzle, nor the person who needs a Wizzler, will be the person who writes the interface.

                                            – supercat
                                            Mar 27 '13 at 21:28






                                          • 153





                                            I don't think that CPU consumption is the highlight-worthy point on interfaces.

                                            – Dan Lugg
                                            Sep 11 '13 at 21:40






                                          • 3





                                            @e-satis Can you please explain your point on CPU utilization? Why does abstract class being a class increase CPU utilization? What kind of lookup are you referring to here?

                                            – Geek
                                            Apr 24 '14 at 13:18






                                          • 29





                                            @e-satis With Java 8, you can define default methods in interfaces which is the equivalent of having non-abstract methods in abstract classes. With this addition, I can no longer see the real difference between abstract classes and interface besides the fact that I should use interfaces because classes can implement multiple interfaces but can only inherit one class

                                            – Ogen
                                            Oct 31 '15 at 1:34






                                          • 17





                                            I think the comparison between interface and class from Head First Java is vivid that A class defines who you are, and an interface tells what roles you could play

                                            – LittleLittleQ
                                            Jul 11 '16 at 6:43
















                                          2078












                                          2078








                                          2078







                                          Interfaces



                                          An interface is a contract: The person writing the interface says, "hey, I accept things looking that way", and the person using the interface says "OK, the class I write looks that way".



                                          An interface is an empty shell. There are only the signatures of the methods, which implies that the methods do not have a body. The interface can't do anything. It's just a pattern.



                                          For example (pseudo code):



                                          // I say all motor vehicles should look like this:
                                          interface MotorVehicle
                                          {
                                          void run();

                                          int getFuel();
                                          }

                                          // My team mate complies and writes vehicle looking that way
                                          class Car implements MotorVehicle
                                          {

                                          int fuel;

                                          void run()
                                          {
                                          print("Wrroooooooom");
                                          }


                                          int getFuel()
                                          {
                                          return this.fuel;
                                          }
                                          }


                                          Implementing an interface consumes very little CPU, because it's not a class, just a bunch of names, and therefore there isn't any expensive look-up to do. It's great when it matters, such as in embedded devices.





                                          Abstract classes



                                          Abstract classes, unlike interfaces, are classes. They are more expensive to use, because there is a look-up to do when you inherit from them.



                                          Abstract classes look a lot like interfaces, but they have something more: You can define a behavior for them. It's more about a person saying, "these classes should look like that, and they have that in common, so fill in the blanks!".



                                          For example:



                                          // I say all motor vehicles should look like this:
                                          abstract class MotorVehicle
                                          {

                                          int fuel;

                                          // They ALL have fuel, so lets implement this for everybody.
                                          int getFuel()
                                          {
                                          return this.fuel;
                                          }

                                          // That can be very different, force them to provide their
                                          // own implementation.
                                          abstract void run();
                                          }

                                          // My teammate complies and writes vehicle looking that way
                                          class Car extends MotorVehicle
                                          {
                                          void run()
                                          {
                                          print("Wrroooooooom");
                                          }
                                          }




                                          Implementation



                                          While abstract classes and interfaces are supposed to be different concepts, the implementations make that statement sometimes untrue. Sometimes, they are not even what you think they are.



                                          In Java, this rule is strongly enforced, while in PHP, interfaces are abstract classes with no method declared.



                                          In Python, abstract classes are more a programming trick you can get from the ABC module and is actually using metaclasses, and therefore classes. And interfaces are more related to duck typing in this language and it's a mix between conventions and special methods that call descriptors (the __method__ methods).



                                          As usual with programming, there is theory, practice, and practice in another language :-)






                                          share|improve this answer















                                          Interfaces



                                          An interface is a contract: The person writing the interface says, "hey, I accept things looking that way", and the person using the interface says "OK, the class I write looks that way".



                                          An interface is an empty shell. There are only the signatures of the methods, which implies that the methods do not have a body. The interface can't do anything. It's just a pattern.



                                          For example (pseudo code):



                                          // I say all motor vehicles should look like this:
                                          interface MotorVehicle
                                          {
                                          void run();

                                          int getFuel();
                                          }

                                          // My team mate complies and writes vehicle looking that way
                                          class Car implements MotorVehicle
                                          {

                                          int fuel;

                                          void run()
                                          {
                                          print("Wrroooooooom");
                                          }


                                          int getFuel()
                                          {
                                          return this.fuel;
                                          }
                                          }


                                          Implementing an interface consumes very little CPU, because it's not a class, just a bunch of names, and therefore there isn't any expensive look-up to do. It's great when it matters, such as in embedded devices.





                                          Abstract classes



                                          Abstract classes, unlike interfaces, are classes. They are more expensive to use, because there is a look-up to do when you inherit from them.



                                          Abstract classes look a lot like interfaces, but they have something more: You can define a behavior for them. It's more about a person saying, "these classes should look like that, and they have that in common, so fill in the blanks!".



                                          For example:



                                          // I say all motor vehicles should look like this:
                                          abstract class MotorVehicle
                                          {

                                          int fuel;

                                          // They ALL have fuel, so lets implement this for everybody.
                                          int getFuel()
                                          {
                                          return this.fuel;
                                          }

                                          // That can be very different, force them to provide their
                                          // own implementation.
                                          abstract void run();
                                          }

                                          // My teammate complies and writes vehicle looking that way
                                          class Car extends MotorVehicle
                                          {
                                          void run()
                                          {
                                          print("Wrroooooooom");
                                          }
                                          }




                                          Implementation



                                          While abstract classes and interfaces are supposed to be different concepts, the implementations make that statement sometimes untrue. Sometimes, they are not even what you think they are.



                                          In Java, this rule is strongly enforced, while in PHP, interfaces are abstract classes with no method declared.



                                          In Python, abstract classes are more a programming trick you can get from the ABC module and is actually using metaclasses, and therefore classes. And interfaces are more related to duck typing in this language and it's a mix between conventions and special methods that call descriptors (the __method__ methods).



                                          As usual with programming, there is theory, practice, and practice in another language :-)







                                          share|improve this answer














                                          share|improve this answer



                                          share|improve this answer








                                          edited May 16 '18 at 2:56









                                          Dave S

                                          8951919




                                          8951919










                                          answered Dec 16 '09 at 8:37









                                          e-satise-satis

                                          356k97264309




                                          356k97264309








                                          • 5





                                            The key point about interfaces is not so much that they say what a class does, but allow objects that can Wizzle to make themselves useful to code that needs a Wizzler. Note that in many cases neither the person who writes the thing that can Wizzle, nor the person who needs a Wizzler, will be the person who writes the interface.

                                            – supercat
                                            Mar 27 '13 at 21:28






                                          • 153





                                            I don't think that CPU consumption is the highlight-worthy point on interfaces.

                                            – Dan Lugg
                                            Sep 11 '13 at 21:40






                                          • 3





                                            @e-satis Can you please explain your point on CPU utilization? Why does abstract class being a class increase CPU utilization? What kind of lookup are you referring to here?

                                            – Geek
                                            Apr 24 '14 at 13:18






                                          • 29





                                            @e-satis With Java 8, you can define default methods in interfaces which is the equivalent of having non-abstract methods in abstract classes. With this addition, I can no longer see the real difference between abstract classes and interface besides the fact that I should use interfaces because classes can implement multiple interfaces but can only inherit one class

                                            – Ogen
                                            Oct 31 '15 at 1:34






                                          • 17





                                            I think the comparison between interface and class from Head First Java is vivid that A class defines who you are, and an interface tells what roles you could play

                                            – LittleLittleQ
                                            Jul 11 '16 at 6:43
















                                          • 5





                                            The key point about interfaces is not so much that they say what a class does, but allow objects that can Wizzle to make themselves useful to code that needs a Wizzler. Note that in many cases neither the person who writes the thing that can Wizzle, nor the person who needs a Wizzler, will be the person who writes the interface.

                                            – supercat
                                            Mar 27 '13 at 21:28






                                          • 153





                                            I don't think that CPU consumption is the highlight-worthy point on interfaces.

                                            – Dan Lugg
                                            Sep 11 '13 at 21:40






                                          • 3





                                            @e-satis Can you please explain your point on CPU utilization? Why does abstract class being a class increase CPU utilization? What kind of lookup are you referring to here?

                                            – Geek
                                            Apr 24 '14 at 13:18






                                          • 29





                                            @e-satis With Java 8, you can define default methods in interfaces which is the equivalent of having non-abstract methods in abstract classes. With this addition, I can no longer see the real difference between abstract classes and interface besides the fact that I should use interfaces because classes can implement multiple interfaces but can only inherit one class

                                            – Ogen
                                            Oct 31 '15 at 1:34






                                          • 17





                                            I think the comparison between interface and class from Head First Java is vivid that A class defines who you are, and an interface tells what roles you could play

                                            – LittleLittleQ
                                            Jul 11 '16 at 6:43










                                          5




                                          5





                                          The key point about interfaces is not so much that they say what a class does, but allow objects that can Wizzle to make themselves useful to code that needs a Wizzler. Note that in many cases neither the person who writes the thing that can Wizzle, nor the person who needs a Wizzler, will be the person who writes the interface.

                                          – supercat
                                          Mar 27 '13 at 21:28





                                          The key point about interfaces is not so much that they say what a class does, but allow objects that can Wizzle to make themselves useful to code that needs a Wizzler. Note that in many cases neither the person who writes the thing that can Wizzle, nor the person who needs a Wizzler, will be the person who writes the interface.

                                          – supercat
                                          Mar 27 '13 at 21:28




                                          153




                                          153





                                          I don't think that CPU consumption is the highlight-worthy point on interfaces.

                                          – Dan Lugg
                                          Sep 11 '13 at 21:40





                                          I don't think that CPU consumption is the highlight-worthy point on interfaces.

                                          – Dan Lugg
                                          Sep 11 '13 at 21:40




                                          3




                                          3





                                          @e-satis Can you please explain your point on CPU utilization? Why does abstract class being a class increase CPU utilization? What kind of lookup are you referring to here?

                                          – Geek
                                          Apr 24 '14 at 13:18





                                          @e-satis Can you please explain your point on CPU utilization? Why does abstract class being a class increase CPU utilization? What kind of lookup are you referring to here?

                                          – Geek
                                          Apr 24 '14 at 13:18




                                          29




                                          29





                                          @e-satis With Java 8, you can define default methods in interfaces which is the equivalent of having non-abstract methods in abstract classes. With this addition, I can no longer see the real difference between abstract classes and interface besides the fact that I should use interfaces because classes can implement multiple interfaces but can only inherit one class

                                          – Ogen
                                          Oct 31 '15 at 1:34





                                          @e-satis With Java 8, you can define default methods in interfaces which is the equivalent of having non-abstract methods in abstract classes. With this addition, I can no longer see the real difference between abstract classes and interface besides the fact that I should use interfaces because classes can implement multiple interfaces but can only inherit one class

                                          – Ogen
                                          Oct 31 '15 at 1:34




                                          17




                                          17





                                          I think the comparison between interface and class from Head First Java is vivid that A class defines who you are, and an interface tells what roles you could play

                                          – LittleLittleQ
                                          Jul 11 '16 at 6:43







                                          I think the comparison between interface and class from Head First Java is vivid that A class defines who you are, and an interface tells what roles you could play

                                          – LittleLittleQ
                                          Jul 11 '16 at 6:43















                                          814














                                          The key technical differences between an abstract class and an interface are:




                                          • Abstract classes can have constants, members, method stubs (methods without a body) and defined methods, whereas interfaces can only have constants and methods stubs.


                                          • Methods and members of an abstract class can be defined with any visibility, whereas all methods of an interface must be defined as public (they are defined public by default).


                                          • When inheriting an abstract class, a concrete child class must define the abstract methods, whereas an abstract class can extend another abstract class and abstract methods from the parent class don't have to be defined.


                                          • Similarly, an interface extending another interface is not responsible for implementing methods from the parent interface. This is because interfaces cannot define any implementation.


                                          • A child class can only extend a single class (abstract or concrete), whereas an interface can extend or a class can implement multiple other interfaces.


                                          • A child class can define abstract methods with the same or less restrictive visibility, whereas a class implementing an interface must define the methods with the exact same visibility (public).







                                          share|improve this answer





















                                          • 112





                                            i think this is the best answer because it highlights all of the key differences. an example's not really necessary.

                                            – Joshua K
                                            Jul 10 '11 at 18:01






                                          • 4





                                            And normally with classes you can instantiate an object from it unlike the abstract classes which CANNOT be instantiated.

                                            – SASM
                                            Jul 9 '13 at 20:48











                                          • I thought a class that implement the interface need to define all the methods in the interface?

                                            – Jiazzy user
                                            Dec 27 '13 at 12:33











                                          • @Jiazzyuser If an abstract class implements an interface, it does not have to actually define the interface's methods. That requirement can be deferred to inheriting/child concrete classes. However, a concrete class must implement all interface methods that are not implemented by its parent class. I'll add example to illustrate this point.

                                            – Justin Johnson
                                            Jan 28 '14 at 20:44








                                          • 4





                                            "When inheriting an abstract class, the child class must define the abstract methods, whereas an interface can extend another interface and methods don't have to be defined." - This is not true. Just as an interface can extend an interface without defining methods, an abstract class can inherit an abstract class without defining methods.

                                            – Nick
                                            Mar 10 '14 at 17:21


















                                          814














                                          The key technical differences between an abstract class and an interface are:




                                          • Abstract classes can have constants, members, method stubs (methods without a body) and defined methods, whereas interfaces can only have constants and methods stubs.


                                          • Methods and members of an abstract class can be defined with any visibility, whereas all methods of an interface must be defined as public (they are defined public by default).


                                          • When inheriting an abstract class, a concrete child class must define the abstract methods, whereas an abstract class can extend another abstract class and abstract methods from the parent class don't have to be defined.


                                          • Similarly, an interface extending another interface is not responsible for implementing methods from the parent interface. This is because interfaces cannot define any implementation.


                                          • A child class can only extend a single class (abstract or concrete), whereas an interface can extend or a class can implement multiple other interfaces.


                                          • A child class can define abstract methods with the same or less restrictive visibility, whereas a class implementing an interface must define the methods with the exact same visibility (public).







                                          share|improve this answer





















                                          • 112





                                            i think this is the best answer because it highlights all of the key differences. an example's not really necessary.

                                            – Joshua K
                                            Jul 10 '11 at 18:01






                                          • 4





                                            And normally with classes you can instantiate an object from it unlike the abstract classes which CANNOT be instantiated.

                                            – SASM
                                            Jul 9 '13 at 20:48











                                          • I thought a class that implement the interface need to define all the methods in the interface?

                                            – Jiazzy user
                                            Dec 27 '13 at 12:33











                                          • @Jiazzyuser If an abstract class implements an interface, it does not have to actually define the interface's methods. That requirement can be deferred to inheriting/child concrete classes. However, a concrete class must implement all interface methods that are not implemented by its parent class. I'll add example to illustrate this point.

                                            – Justin Johnson
                                            Jan 28 '14 at 20:44








                                          • 4





                                            "When inheriting an abstract class, the child class must define the abstract methods, whereas an interface can extend another interface and methods don't have to be defined." - This is not true. Just as an interface can extend an interface without defining methods, an abstract class can inherit an abstract class without defining methods.

                                            – Nick
                                            Mar 10 '14 at 17:21
















                                          814












                                          814








                                          814







                                          The key technical differences between an abstract class and an interface are:




                                          • Abstract classes can have constants, members, method stubs (methods without a body) and defined methods, whereas interfaces can only have constants and methods stubs.


                                          • Methods and members of an abstract class can be defined with any visibility, whereas all methods of an interface must be defined as public (they are defined public by default).


                                          • When inheriting an abstract class, a concrete child class must define the abstract methods, whereas an abstract class can extend another abstract class and abstract methods from the parent class don't have to be defined.


                                          • Similarly, an interface extending another interface is not responsible for implementing methods from the parent interface. This is because interfaces cannot define any implementation.


                                          • A child class can only extend a single class (abstract or concrete), whereas an interface can extend or a class can implement multiple other interfaces.


                                          • A child class can define abstract methods with the same or less restrictive visibility, whereas a class implementing an interface must define the methods with the exact same visibility (public).







                                          share|improve this answer















                                          The key technical differences between an abstract class and an interface are:




                                          • Abstract classes can have constants, members, method stubs (methods without a body) and defined methods, whereas interfaces can only have constants and methods stubs.


                                          • Methods and members of an abstract class can be defined with any visibility, whereas all methods of an interface must be defined as public (they are defined public by default).


                                          • When inheriting an abstract class, a concrete child class must define the abstract methods, whereas an abstract class can extend another abstract class and abstract methods from the parent class don't have to be defined.


                                          • Similarly, an interface extending another interface is not responsible for implementing methods from the parent interface. This is because interfaces cannot define any implementation.


                                          • A child class can only extend a single class (abstract or concrete), whereas an interface can extend or a class can implement multiple other interfaces.


                                          • A child class can define abstract methods with the same or less restrictive visibility, whereas a class implementing an interface must define the methods with the exact same visibility (public).








                                          share|improve this answer














                                          share|improve this answer



                                          share|improve this answer








                                          edited Nov 20 '16 at 14:14









                                          Peter Mortensen

                                          13.6k1984111




                                          13.6k1984111










                                          answered Dec 16 '09 at 10:11









                                          Justin JohnsonJustin Johnson

                                          27.2k75585




                                          27.2k75585








                                          • 112





                                            i think this is the best answer because it highlights all of the key differences. an example's not really necessary.

                                            – Joshua K
                                            Jul 10 '11 at 18:01






                                          • 4





                                            And normally with classes you can instantiate an object from it unlike the abstract classes which CANNOT be instantiated.

                                            – SASM
                                            Jul 9 '13 at 20:48











                                          • I thought a class that implement the interface need to define all the methods in the interface?

                                            – Jiazzy user
                                            Dec 27 '13 at 12:33











                                          • @Jiazzyuser If an abstract class implements an interface, it does not have to actually define the interface's methods. That requirement can be deferred to inheriting/child concrete classes. However, a concrete class must implement all interface methods that are not implemented by its parent class. I'll add example to illustrate this point.

                                            – Justin Johnson
                                            Jan 28 '14 at 20:44








                                          • 4





                                            "When inheriting an abstract class, the child class must define the abstract methods, whereas an interface can extend another interface and methods don't have to be defined." - This is not true. Just as an interface can extend an interface without defining methods, an abstract class can inherit an abstract class without defining methods.

                                            – Nick
                                            Mar 10 '14 at 17:21
















                                          • 112





                                            i think this is the best answer because it highlights all of the key differences. an example's not really necessary.

                                            – Joshua K
                                            Jul 10 '11 at 18:01






                                          • 4





                                            And normally with classes you can instantiate an object from it unlike the abstract classes which CANNOT be instantiated.

                                            – SASM
                                            Jul 9 '13 at 20:48











                                          • I thought a class that implement the interface need to define all the methods in the interface?

                                            – Jiazzy user
                                            Dec 27 '13 at 12:33











                                          • @Jiazzyuser If an abstract class implements an interface, it does not have to actually define the interface's methods. That requirement can be deferred to inheriting/child concrete classes. However, a concrete class must implement all interface methods that are not implemented by its parent class. I'll add example to illustrate this point.

                                            – Justin Johnson
                                            Jan 28 '14 at 20:44








                                          • 4





                                            "When inheriting an abstract class, the child class must define the abstract methods, whereas an interface can extend another interface and methods don't have to be defined." - This is not true. Just as an interface can extend an interface without defining methods, an abstract class can inherit an abstract class without defining methods.

                                            – Nick
                                            Mar 10 '14 at 17:21










                                          112




                                          112





                                          i think this is the best answer because it highlights all of the key differences. an example's not really necessary.

                                          – Joshua K
                                          Jul 10 '11 at 18:01





                                          i think this is the best answer because it highlights all of the key differences. an example's not really necessary.

                                          – Joshua K
                                          Jul 10 '11 at 18:01




                                          4




                                          4





                                          And normally with classes you can instantiate an object from it unlike the abstract classes which CANNOT be instantiated.

                                          – SASM
                                          Jul 9 '13 at 20:48





                                          And normally with classes you can instantiate an object from it unlike the abstract classes which CANNOT be instantiated.

                                          – SASM
                                          Jul 9 '13 at 20:48













                                          I thought a class that implement the interface need to define all the methods in the interface?

                                          – Jiazzy user
                                          Dec 27 '13 at 12:33





                                          I thought a class that implement the interface need to define all the methods in the interface?

                                          – Jiazzy user
                                          Dec 27 '13 at 12:33













                                          @Jiazzyuser If an abstract class implements an interface, it does not have to actually define the interface's methods. That requirement can be deferred to inheriting/child concrete classes. However, a concrete class must implement all interface methods that are not implemented by its parent class. I'll add example to illustrate this point.

                                          – Justin Johnson
                                          Jan 28 '14 at 20:44







                                          @Jiazzyuser If an abstract class implements an interface, it does not have to actually define the interface's methods. That requirement can be deferred to inheriting/child concrete classes. However, a concrete class must implement all interface methods that are not implemented by its parent class. I'll add example to illustrate this point.

                                          – Justin Johnson
                                          Jan 28 '14 at 20:44






                                          4




                                          4





                                          "When inheriting an abstract class, the child class must define the abstract methods, whereas an interface can extend another interface and methods don't have to be defined." - This is not true. Just as an interface can extend an interface without defining methods, an abstract class can inherit an abstract class without defining methods.

                                          – Nick
                                          Mar 10 '14 at 17:21







                                          "When inheriting an abstract class, the child class must define the abstract methods, whereas an interface can extend another interface and methods don't have to be defined." - This is not true. Just as an interface can extend an interface without defining methods, an abstract class can inherit an abstract class without defining methods.

                                          – Nick
                                          Mar 10 '14 at 17:21













                                          123














                                          An Interface contains only the definition / signature of functionality, and if we have some common functionality as well as common signatures, then we need to use an abstract class. By using an abstract class, we can provide behavior as well as functionality both in the same time. Another developer inheriting abstract class can use this functionality easily, as they would only need to fill in the blanks.



                                          enter image description here
                                          Taken from:



                                          http://www.dotnetbull.com/2011/11/difference-between-abstract-class-and.html



                                          http://www.dotnetbull.com/2011/11/what-is-abstract-class-in-c-net.html
                                          http://www.dotnetbull.com/2011/11/what-is-interface-in-c-net.html






                                          share|improve this answer





















                                          • 10





                                            You need to say what language this applies to ("Abstract class does not support multiple inheritance" is far from being universally true)

                                            – Ben Voigt
                                            Mar 7 '14 at 4:16













                                          • Last comparison is confusing as per table! Methods in interface can't be static but variables are static final Implemented methods in abstract class can be static

                                            – realPK
                                            Mar 9 '14 at 4:29






                                          • 1





                                            Typo it not Cunstructor .. Its Constructor..

                                            – Pra Jazz
                                            Jul 18 '14 at 10:57






                                          • 6





                                            Member of the interface must be static final . Last statement is wrong.

                                            – Xar E Ahmer
                                            Aug 5 '14 at 8:21






                                          • 1





                                            What is the targetted programming language here? C#?

                                            – Peter Mortensen
                                            Nov 20 '16 at 14:26
















                                          123














                                          An Interface contains only the definition / signature of functionality, and if we have some common functionality as well as common signatures, then we need to use an abstract class. By using an abstract class, we can provide behavior as well as functionality both in the same time. Another developer inheriting abstract class can use this functionality easily, as they would only need to fill in the blanks.



                                          enter image description here
                                          Taken from:



                                          http://www.dotnetbull.com/2011/11/difference-between-abstract-class-and.html



                                          http://www.dotnetbull.com/2011/11/what-is-abstract-class-in-c-net.html
                                          http://www.dotnetbull.com/2011/11/what-is-interface-in-c-net.html






                                          share|improve this answer





















                                          • 10





                                            You need to say what language this applies to ("Abstract class does not support multiple inheritance" is far from being universally true)

                                            – Ben Voigt
                                            Mar 7 '14 at 4:16













                                          • Last comparison is confusing as per table! Methods in interface can't be static but variables are static final Implemented methods in abstract class can be static

                                            – realPK
                                            Mar 9 '14 at 4:29






                                          • 1





                                            Typo it not Cunstructor .. Its Constructor..

                                            – Pra Jazz
                                            Jul 18 '14 at 10:57






                                          • 6





                                            Member of the interface must be static final . Last statement is wrong.

                                            – Xar E Ahmer
                                            Aug 5 '14 at 8:21






                                          • 1





                                            What is the targetted programming language here? C#?

                                            – Peter Mortensen
                                            Nov 20 '16 at 14:26














                                          123












                                          123








                                          123







                                          An Interface contains only the definition / signature of functionality, and if we have some common functionality as well as common signatures, then we need to use an abstract class. By using an abstract class, we can provide behavior as well as functionality both in the same time. Another developer inheriting abstract class can use this functionality easily, as they would only need to fill in the blanks.



                                          enter image description here
                                          Taken from:



                                          http://www.dotnetbull.com/2011/11/difference-between-abstract-class-and.html



                                          http://www.dotnetbull.com/2011/11/what-is-abstract-class-in-c-net.html
                                          http://www.dotnetbull.com/2011/11/what-is-interface-in-c-net.html






                                          share|improve this answer















                                          An Interface contains only the definition / signature of functionality, and if we have some common functionality as well as common signatures, then we need to use an abstract class. By using an abstract class, we can provide behavior as well as functionality both in the same time. Another developer inheriting abstract class can use this functionality easily, as they would only need to fill in the blanks.



                                          enter image description here
                                          Taken from:



                                          http://www.dotnetbull.com/2011/11/difference-between-abstract-class-and.html



                                          http://www.dotnetbull.com/2011/11/what-is-abstract-class-in-c-net.html
                                          http://www.dotnetbull.com/2011/11/what-is-interface-in-c-net.html







                                          share|improve this answer














                                          share|improve this answer



                                          share|improve this answer








                                          edited Oct 26 '18 at 5:55

























                                          answered Sep 15 '13 at 8:59









                                          VivekVivek

                                          3,8922138




                                          3,8922138








                                          • 10





                                            You need to say what language this applies to ("Abstract class does not support multiple inheritance" is far from being universally true)

                                            – Ben Voigt
                                            Mar 7 '14 at 4:16













                                          • Last comparison is confusing as per table! Methods in interface can't be static but variables are static final Implemented methods in abstract class can be static

                                            – realPK
                                            Mar 9 '14 at 4:29






                                          • 1





                                            Typo it not Cunstructor .. Its Constructor..

                                            – Pra Jazz
                                            Jul 18 '14 at 10:57






                                          • 6





                                            Member of the interface must be static final . Last statement is wrong.

                                            – Xar E Ahmer
                                            Aug 5 '14 at 8:21






                                          • 1





                                            What is the targetted programming language here? C#?

                                            – Peter Mortensen
                                            Nov 20 '16 at 14:26














                                          • 10





                                            You need to say what language this applies to ("Abstract class does not support multiple inheritance" is far from being universally true)

                                            – Ben Voigt
                                            Mar 7 '14 at 4:16













                                          • Last comparison is confusing as per table! Methods in interface can't be static but variables are static final Implemented methods in abstract class can be static

                                            – realPK
                                            Mar 9 '14 at 4:29






                                          • 1





                                            Typo it not Cunstructor .. Its Constructor..

                                            – Pra Jazz
                                            Jul 18 '14 at 10:57






                                          • 6





                                            Member of the interface must be static final . Last statement is wrong.

                                            – Xar E Ahmer
                                            Aug 5 '14 at 8:21






                                          • 1





                                            What is the targetted programming language here? C#?

                                            – Peter Mortensen
                                            Nov 20 '16 at 14:26








                                          10




                                          10





                                          You need to say what language this applies to ("Abstract class does not support multiple inheritance" is far from being universally true)

                                          – Ben Voigt
                                          Mar 7 '14 at 4:16







                                          You need to say what language this applies to ("Abstract class does not support multiple inheritance" is far from being universally true)

                                          – Ben Voigt
                                          Mar 7 '14 at 4:16















                                          Last comparison is confusing as per table! Methods in interface can't be static but variables are static final Implemented methods in abstract class can be static

                                          – realPK
                                          Mar 9 '14 at 4:29





                                          Last comparison is confusing as per table! Methods in interface can't be static but variables are static final Implemented methods in abstract class can be static

                                          – realPK
                                          Mar 9 '14 at 4:29




                                          1




                                          1





                                          Typo it not Cunstructor .. Its Constructor..

                                          – Pra Jazz
                                          Jul 18 '14 at 10:57





                                          Typo it not Cunstructor .. Its Constructor..

                                          – Pra Jazz
                                          Jul 18 '14 at 10:57




                                          6




                                          6





                                          Member of the interface must be static final . Last statement is wrong.

                                          – Xar E Ahmer
                                          Aug 5 '14 at 8:21





                                          Member of the interface must be static final . Last statement is wrong.

                                          – Xar E Ahmer
                                          Aug 5 '14 at 8:21




                                          1




                                          1





                                          What is the targetted programming language here? C#?

                                          – Peter Mortensen
                                          Nov 20 '16 at 14:26





                                          What is the targetted programming language here? C#?

                                          – Peter Mortensen
                                          Nov 20 '16 at 14:26











                                          77














                                          An explanation can be found here: http://www.developer.com/lang/php/article.php/3604111/PHP-5-OOP-Interfaces-Abstract-Classes-and-the-Adapter-Pattern.htm




                                          An abstract class is a class that is
                                          only partially implemented by the
                                          programmer. It may contain one or more
                                          abstract methods. An abstract method
                                          is simply a function definition that
                                          serves to tell the programmer that the
                                          method must be implemented in a child
                                          class.



                                          An interface is similar to an abstract
                                          class; indeed interfaces occupy the
                                          same namespace as classes and abstract
                                          classes. For that reason, you cannot
                                          define an interface with the same name
                                          as a class. An interface is a fully
                                          abstract class; none of its methods
                                          are implemented and instead of a class
                                          sub-classing from it, it is said to
                                          implement that interface.




                                          Anyway I find this explanation of interfaces somewhat confusing. A more common definition is: An interface defines a contract that implementing classes must fulfill. An interface definition consists of signatures of public members, without any implementing code.






                                          share|improve this answer





















                                          • 4





                                            This is the most correct answer, since PHP interfaces differ from other languages in that PHP interfaces ARE abstract classes under the hood, whereas other languages' interfaces are signatures that classes must match. They behave the same as long as there are no errors though.

                                            – Tor Valamo
                                            Dec 16 '09 at 8:55






                                          • 1





                                            True, for PHP it's the real best anwser. But it's harder to get from the text blob than from a simple snippet.

                                            – e-satis
                                            Dec 16 '09 at 12:15











                                          • From the definitions you provided, they look the same except for one detail: and interface is 100% abstract, while an abstract class is partially abstract and can have some method implementations (perhaps all methods can have implementations?).

                                            – jww
                                            Aug 23 '14 at 4:02
















                                          77














                                          An explanation can be found here: http://www.developer.com/lang/php/article.php/3604111/PHP-5-OOP-Interfaces-Abstract-Classes-and-the-Adapter-Pattern.htm




                                          An abstract class is a class that is
                                          only partially implemented by the
                                          programmer. It may contain one or more
                                          abstract methods. An abstract method
                                          is simply a function definition that
                                          serves to tell the programmer that the
                                          method must be implemented in a child
                                          class.



                                          An interface is similar to an abstract
                                          class; indeed interfaces occupy the
                                          same namespace as classes and abstract
                                          classes. For that reason, you cannot
                                          define an interface with the same name
                                          as a class. An interface is a fully
                                          abstract class; none of its methods
                                          are implemented and instead of a class
                                          sub-classing from it, it is said to
                                          implement that interface.




                                          Anyway I find this explanation of interfaces somewhat confusing. A more common definition is: An interface defines a contract that implementing classes must fulfill. An interface definition consists of signatures of public members, without any implementing code.






                                          share|improve this answer





















                                          • 4





                                            This is the most correct answer, since PHP interfaces differ from other languages in that PHP interfaces ARE abstract classes under the hood, whereas other languages' interfaces are signatures that classes must match. They behave the same as long as there are no errors though.

                                            – Tor Valamo
                                            Dec 16 '09 at 8:55






                                          • 1





                                            True, for PHP it's the real best anwser. But it's harder to get from the text blob than from a simple snippet.

                                            – e-satis
                                            Dec 16 '09 at 12:15











                                          • From the definitions you provided, they look the same except for one detail: and interface is 100% abstract, while an abstract class is partially abstract and can have some method implementations (perhaps all methods can have implementations?).

                                            – jww
                                            Aug 23 '14 at 4:02














                                          77












                                          77








                                          77







                                          An explanation can be found here: http://www.developer.com/lang/php/article.php/3604111/PHP-5-OOP-Interfaces-Abstract-Classes-and-the-Adapter-Pattern.htm




                                          An abstract class is a class that is
                                          only partially implemented by the
                                          programmer. It may contain one or more
                                          abstract methods. An abstract method
                                          is simply a function definition that
                                          serves to tell the programmer that the
                                          method must be implemented in a child
                                          class.



                                          An interface is similar to an abstract
                                          class; indeed interfaces occupy the
                                          same namespace as classes and abstract
                                          classes. For that reason, you cannot
                                          define an interface with the same name
                                          as a class. An interface is a fully
                                          abstract class; none of its methods
                                          are implemented and instead of a class
                                          sub-classing from it, it is said to
                                          implement that interface.




                                          Anyway I find this explanation of interfaces somewhat confusing. A more common definition is: An interface defines a contract that implementing classes must fulfill. An interface definition consists of signatures of public members, without any implementing code.






                                          share|improve this answer















                                          An explanation can be found here: http://www.developer.com/lang/php/article.php/3604111/PHP-5-OOP-Interfaces-Abstract-Classes-and-the-Adapter-Pattern.htm




                                          An abstract class is a class that is
                                          only partially implemented by the
                                          programmer. It may contain one or more
                                          abstract methods. An abstract method
                                          is simply a function definition that
                                          serves to tell the programmer that the
                                          method must be implemented in a child
                                          class.



                                          An interface is similar to an abstract
                                          class; indeed interfaces occupy the
                                          same namespace as classes and abstract
                                          classes. For that reason, you cannot
                                          define an interface with the same name
                                          as a class. An interface is a fully
                                          abstract class; none of its methods
                                          are implemented and instead of a class
                                          sub-classing from it, it is said to
                                          implement that interface.




                                          Anyway I find this explanation of interfaces somewhat confusing. A more common definition is: An interface defines a contract that implementing classes must fulfill. An interface definition consists of signatures of public members, without any implementing code.







                                          share|improve this answer














                                          share|improve this answer



                                          share|improve this answer








                                          edited Dec 16 '09 at 8:24

























                                          answered Dec 16 '09 at 8:18









                                          KonamimanKonamiman

                                          42.7k1598127




                                          42.7k1598127








                                          • 4





                                            This is the most correct answer, since PHP interfaces differ from other languages in that PHP interfaces ARE abstract classes under the hood, whereas other languages' interfaces are signatures that classes must match. They behave the same as long as there are no errors though.

                                            – Tor Valamo
                                            Dec 16 '09 at 8:55






                                          • 1





                                            True, for PHP it's the real best anwser. But it's harder to get from the text blob than from a simple snippet.

                                            – e-satis
                                            Dec 16 '09 at 12:15











                                          • From the definitions you provided, they look the same except for one detail: and interface is 100% abstract, while an abstract class is partially abstract and can have some method implementations (perhaps all methods can have implementations?).

                                            – jww
                                            Aug 23 '14 at 4:02














                                          • 4





                                            This is the most correct answer, since PHP interfaces differ from other languages in that PHP interfaces ARE abstract classes under the hood, whereas other languages' interfaces are signatures that classes must match. They behave the same as long as there are no errors though.

                                            – Tor Valamo
                                            Dec 16 '09 at 8:55






                                          • 1





                                            True, for PHP it's the real best anwser. But it's harder to get from the text blob than from a simple snippet.

                                            – e-satis
                                            Dec 16 '09 at 12:15











                                          • From the definitions you provided, they look the same except for one detail: and interface is 100% abstract, while an abstract class is partially abstract and can have some method implementations (perhaps all methods can have implementations?).

                                            – jww
                                            Aug 23 '14 at 4:02








                                          4




                                          4





                                          This is the most correct answer, since PHP interfaces differ from other languages in that PHP interfaces ARE abstract classes under the hood, whereas other languages' interfaces are signatures that classes must match. They behave the same as long as there are no errors though.

                                          – Tor Valamo
                                          Dec 16 '09 at 8:55





                                          This is the most correct answer, since PHP interfaces differ from other languages in that PHP interfaces ARE abstract classes under the hood, whereas other languages' interfaces are signatures that classes must match. They behave the same as long as there are no errors though.

                                          – Tor Valamo
                                          Dec 16 '09 at 8:55




                                          1




                                          1





                                          True, for PHP it's the real best anwser. But it's harder to get from the text blob than from a simple snippet.

                                          – e-satis
                                          Dec 16 '09 at 12:15





                                          True, for PHP it's the real best anwser. But it's harder to get from the text blob than from a simple snippet.

                                          – e-satis
                                          Dec 16 '09 at 12:15













                                          From the definitions you provided, they look the same except for one detail: and interface is 100% abstract, while an abstract class is partially abstract and can have some method implementations (perhaps all methods can have implementations?).

                                          – jww
                                          Aug 23 '14 at 4:02





                                          From the definitions you provided, they look the same except for one detail: and interface is 100% abstract, while an abstract class is partially abstract and can have some method implementations (perhaps all methods can have implementations?).

                                          – jww
                                          Aug 23 '14 at 4:02











                                          37














                                          Some important differences:



                                          In the form of a table:



                                          Difference



                                          As stated by Joe from javapapers:




                                          1.Main difference is methods of a Java interface are implicitly abstract and cannot have implementations. A Java abstract class can
                                          have instance methods that implements a default behavior.



                                          2.Variables declared in a Java interface is by default final. An abstract class may contain non-final variables.



                                          3.Members of a Java interface are public by default. A Java abstract class can have the usual flavors of class members like private,
                                          protected, etc..



                                          4.Java interface should be implemented using keyword “implements”; A Java abstract class should be extended using keyword “extends”.



                                          5.An interface can extend another Java interface only, an abstract class can extend another Java class and implement multiple Java
                                          interfaces.



                                          6.A Java class can implement multiple interfaces but it can extend only one abstract class.



                                          7.Interface is absolutely abstract and cannot be instantiated; A Java abstract class also cannot be instantiated, but can be invoked if a
                                          main() exists.



                                          8.In comparison with java abstract classes, java interfaces are slow as it requires extra indirection.







                                          share|improve this answer





















                                          • 3





                                            I've edited your answer to provide correct attribution. You can't just drop a link at the bottom of your answer. You need to quote all of the language that was copied from another source, as well. Also, if that table was drawn from somewhere, you should clearly indicate where that is from.

                                            – Brad Larson
                                            Oct 14 '13 at 19:54











                                          • Please mention for C++ as well.. though there is no keyword "interface" in C++ as such, but its a commonly asked Qn regd C++ as well.

                                            – cbinder
                                            Jun 18 '14 at 4:52











                                          • @cbinder : There is no keyword 'interface' in c++. For difference in c++, please refer 1. tutorialspoint.com/cplusplus/cpp_interfaces.htm 2. tutorialspoint.com/cplusplus/cpp_interfaces.htm

                                            – softmage99
                                            Jun 18 '14 at 9:34











                                          • @MageshBabu Perhaps defining a function in a class containing pure virtual function makes it an abstract class rather than the interface

                                            – cbinder
                                            Jun 19 '14 at 9:52






                                          • 2





                                            With Java 8, the differences are less now. Check updated differences here: journaldev.com/1607/…

                                            – Pankaj
                                            Jul 15 '14 at 17:28
















                                          37














                                          Some important differences:



                                          In the form of a table:



                                          Difference



                                          As stated by Joe from javapapers:




                                          1.Main difference is methods of a Java interface are implicitly abstract and cannot have implementations. A Java abstract class can
                                          have instance methods that implements a default behavior.



                                          2.Variables declared in a Java interface is by default final. An abstract class may contain non-final variables.



                                          3.Members of a Java interface are public by default. A Java abstract class can have the usual flavors of class members like private,
                                          protected, etc..



                                          4.Java interface should be implemented using keyword “implements”; A Java abstract class should be extended using keyword “extends”.



                                          5.An interface can extend another Java interface only, an abstract class can extend another Java class and implement multiple Java
                                          interfaces.



                                          6.A Java class can implement multiple interfaces but it can extend only one abstract class.



                                          7.Interface is absolutely abstract and cannot be instantiated; A Java abstract class also cannot be instantiated, but can be invoked if a
                                          main() exists.



                                          8.In comparison with java abstract classes, java interfaces are slow as it requires extra indirection.







                                          share|improve this answer





















                                          • 3





                                            I've edited your answer to provide correct attribution. You can't just drop a link at the bottom of your answer. You need to quote all of the language that was copied from another source, as well. Also, if that table was drawn from somewhere, you should clearly indicate where that is from.

                                            – Brad Larson
                                            Oct 14 '13 at 19:54











                                          • Please mention for C++ as well.. though there is no keyword "interface" in C++ as such, but its a commonly asked Qn regd C++ as well.

                                            – cbinder
                                            Jun 18 '14 at 4:52











                                          • @cbinder : There is no keyword 'interface' in c++. For difference in c++, please refer 1. tutorialspoint.com/cplusplus/cpp_interfaces.htm 2. tutorialspoint.com/cplusplus/cpp_interfaces.htm

                                            – softmage99
                                            Jun 18 '14 at 9:34











                                          • @MageshBabu Perhaps defining a function in a class containing pure virtual function makes it an abstract class rather than the interface

                                            – cbinder
                                            Jun 19 '14 at 9:52






                                          • 2





                                            With Java 8, the differences are less now. Check updated differences here: journaldev.com/1607/…

                                            – Pankaj
                                            Jul 15 '14 at 17:28














                                          37












                                          37








                                          37







                                          Some important differences:



                                          In the form of a table:



                                          Difference



                                          As stated by Joe from javapapers:




                                          1.Main difference is methods of a Java interface are implicitly abstract and cannot have implementations. A Java abstract class can
                                          have instance methods that implements a default behavior.



                                          2.Variables declared in a Java interface is by default final. An abstract class may contain non-final variables.



                                          3.Members of a Java interface are public by default. A Java abstract class can have the usual flavors of class members like private,
                                          protected, etc..



                                          4.Java interface should be implemented using keyword “implements”; A Java abstract class should be extended using keyword “extends”.



                                          5.An interface can extend another Java interface only, an abstract class can extend another Java class and implement multiple Java
                                          interfaces.



                                          6.A Java class can implement multiple interfaces but it can extend only one abstract class.



                                          7.Interface is absolutely abstract and cannot be instantiated; A Java abstract class also cannot be instantiated, but can be invoked if a
                                          main() exists.



                                          8.In comparison with java abstract classes, java interfaces are slow as it requires extra indirection.







                                          share|improve this answer















                                          Some important differences:



                                          In the form of a table:



                                          Difference



                                          As stated by Joe from javapapers:




                                          1.Main difference is methods of a Java interface are implicitly abstract and cannot have implementations. A Java abstract class can
                                          have instance methods that implements a default behavior.



                                          2.Variables declared in a Java interface is by default final. An abstract class may contain non-final variables.



                                          3.Members of a Java interface are public by default. A Java abstract class can have the usual flavors of class members like private,
                                          protected, etc..



                                          4.Java interface should be implemented using keyword “implements”; A Java abstract class should be extended using keyword “extends”.



                                          5.An interface can extend another Java interface only, an abstract class can extend another Java class and implement multiple Java
                                          interfaces.



                                          6.A Java class can implement multiple interfaces but it can extend only one abstract class.



                                          7.Interface is absolutely abstract and cannot be instantiated; A Java abstract class also cannot be instantiated, but can be invoked if a
                                          main() exists.



                                          8.In comparison with java abstract classes, java interfaces are slow as it requires extra indirection.








                                          share|improve this answer














                                          share|improve this answer



                                          share|improve this answer








                                          edited Oct 14 '13 at 19:53









                                          Brad Larson

                                          161k40364542




                                          161k40364542










                                          answered May 16 '13 at 5:55









                                          softmage99softmage99

                                          6371812




                                          6371812








                                          • 3





                                            I've edited your answer to provide correct attribution. You can't just drop a link at the bottom of your answer. You need to quote all of the language that was copied from another source, as well. Also, if that table was drawn from somewhere, you should clearly indicate where that is from.

                                            – Brad Larson
                                            Oct 14 '13 at 19:54











                                          • Please mention for C++ as well.. though there is no keyword "interface" in C++ as such, but its a commonly asked Qn regd C++ as well.

                                            – cbinder
                                            Jun 18 '14 at 4:52











                                          • @cbinder : There is no keyword 'interface' in c++. For difference in c++, please refer 1. tutorialspoint.com/cplusplus/cpp_interfaces.htm 2. tutorialspoint.com/cplusplus/cpp_interfaces.htm

                                            – softmage99
                                            Jun 18 '14 at 9:34











                                          • @MageshBabu Perhaps defining a function in a class containing pure virtual function makes it an abstract class rather than the interface

                                            – cbinder
                                            Jun 19 '14 at 9:52






                                          • 2





                                            With Java 8, the differences are less now. Check updated differences here: journaldev.com/1607/…

                                            – Pankaj
                                            Jul 15 '14 at 17:28














                                          • 3





                                            I've edited your answer to provide correct attribution. You can't just drop a link at the bottom of your answer. You need to quote all of the language that was copied from another source, as well. Also, if that table was drawn from somewhere, you should clearly indicate where that is from.

                                            – Brad Larson
                                            Oct 14 '13 at 19:54











                                          • Please mention for C++ as well.. though there is no keyword "interface" in C++ as such, but its a commonly asked Qn regd C++ as well.

                                            – cbinder
                                            Jun 18 '14 at 4:52











                                          • @cbinder : There is no keyword 'interface' in c++. For difference in c++, please refer 1. tutorialspoint.com/cplusplus/cpp_interfaces.htm 2. tutorialspoint.com/cplusplus/cpp_interfaces.htm

                                            – softmage99
                                            Jun 18 '14 at 9:34











                                          • @MageshBabu Perhaps defining a function in a class containing pure virtual function makes it an abstract class rather than the interface

                                            – cbinder
                                            Jun 19 '14 at 9:52






                                          • 2





                                            With Java 8, the differences are less now. Check updated differences here: journaldev.com/1607/…

                                            – Pankaj
                                            Jul 15 '14 at 17:28








                                          3




                                          3





                                          I've edited your answer to provide correct attribution. You can't just drop a link at the bottom of your answer. You need to quote all of the language that was copied from another source, as well. Also, if that table was drawn from somewhere, you should clearly indicate where that is from.

                                          – Brad Larson
                                          Oct 14 '13 at 19:54





                                          I've edited your answer to provide correct attribution. You can't just drop a link at the bottom of your answer. You need to quote all of the language that was copied from another source, as well. Also, if that table was drawn from somewhere, you should clearly indicate where that is from.

                                          – Brad Larson
                                          Oct 14 '13 at 19:54













                                          Please mention for C++ as well.. though there is no keyword "interface" in C++ as such, but its a commonly asked Qn regd C++ as well.

                                          – cbinder
                                          Jun 18 '14 at 4:52





                                          Please mention for C++ as well.. though there is no keyword "interface" in C++ as such, but its a commonly asked Qn regd C++ as well.

                                          – cbinder
                                          Jun 18 '14 at 4:52













                                          @cbinder : There is no keyword 'interface' in c++. For difference in c++, please refer 1. tutorialspoint.com/cplusplus/cpp_interfaces.htm 2. tutorialspoint.com/cplusplus/cpp_interfaces.htm

                                          – softmage99
                                          Jun 18 '14 at 9:34





                                          @cbinder : There is no keyword 'interface' in c++. For difference in c++, please refer 1. tutorialspoint.com/cplusplus/cpp_interfaces.htm 2. tutorialspoint.com/cplusplus/cpp_interfaces.htm

                                          – softmage99
                                          Jun 18 '14 at 9:34













                                          @MageshBabu Perhaps defining a function in a class containing pure virtual function makes it an abstract class rather than the interface

                                          – cbinder
                                          Jun 19 '14 at 9:52





                                          @MageshBabu Perhaps defining a function in a class containing pure virtual function makes it an abstract class rather than the interface

                                          – cbinder
                                          Jun 19 '14 at 9:52




                                          2




                                          2





                                          With Java 8, the differences are less now. Check updated differences here: journaldev.com/1607/…

                                          – Pankaj
                                          Jul 15 '14 at 17:28





                                          With Java 8, the differences are less now. Check updated differences here: journaldev.com/1607/…

                                          – Pankaj
                                          Jul 15 '14 at 17:28











                                          35














                                          I don't want to highlight the differences, which have been already said in many answers ( regarding public static final modifiers for variables in interface & support for protected, private methods in abstract classes)



                                          In simple terms, I would like to say:



                                          interface: To implement a contract by multiple unrelated objects



                                          abstract class: To implement the same or different behaviour among multiple related objects



                                          From the Oracle documentation



                                          Consider using abstract classes if :




                                          1. You want to share code among 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 (such as protected and private).

                                          3. You want to declare non-static or non-final fields.


                                          Consider using interfaces if :




                                          1. You expect that unrelated classes would implement your interface. For example,many unrelated objects can implement Serializable interface.

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

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


                                          abstract class establishes "is a" relation with concrete classes. interface provides "has a" capability for classes.



                                          If you are looking for Java as programming language, here are a few more updates:



                                          Java 8 has reduced the gap between interface and abstract classes to some extent by providing a default method feature. An interface does not have an implementation for a method is no longer valid now.



                                          Refer to this documentation page for more details.



                                          Have a look at this SE question for code examples to understand better.



                                          How should I have explained the difference between an Interface and an Abstract class?






                                          share|improve this answer






























                                            35














                                            I don't want to highlight the differences, which have been already said in many answers ( regarding public static final modifiers for variables in interface & support for protected, private methods in abstract classes)



                                            In simple terms, I would like to say:



                                            interface: To implement a contract by multiple unrelated objects



                                            abstract class: To implement the same or different behaviour among multiple related objects



                                            From the Oracle documentation



                                            Consider using abstract classes if :




                                            1. You want to share code among 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 (such as protected and private).

                                            3. You want to declare non-static or non-final fields.


                                            Consider using interfaces if :




                                            1. You expect that unrelated classes would implement your interface. For example,many unrelated objects can implement Serializable interface.

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

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


                                            abstract class establishes "is a" relation with concrete classes. interface provides "has a" capability for classes.



                                            If you are looking for Java as programming language, here are a few more updates:



                                            Java 8 has reduced the gap between interface and abstract classes to some extent by providing a default method feature. An interface does not have an implementation for a method is no longer valid now.



                                            Refer to this documentation page for more details.



                                            Have a look at this SE question for code examples to understand better.



                                            How should I have explained the difference between an Interface and an Abstract class?






                                            share|improve this answer




























                                              35












                                              35








                                              35







                                              I don't want to highlight the differences, which have been already said in many answers ( regarding public static final modifiers for variables in interface & support for protected, private methods in abstract classes)



                                              In simple terms, I would like to say:



                                              interface: To implement a contract by multiple unrelated objects



                                              abstract class: To implement the same or different behaviour among multiple related objects



                                              From the Oracle documentation



                                              Consider using abstract classes if :




                                              1. You want to share code among 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 (such as protected and private).

                                              3. You want to declare non-static or non-final fields.


                                              Consider using interfaces if :




                                              1. You expect that unrelated classes would implement your interface. For example,many unrelated objects can implement Serializable interface.

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

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


                                              abstract class establishes "is a" relation with concrete classes. interface provides "has a" capability for classes.



                                              If you are looking for Java as programming language, here are a few more updates:



                                              Java 8 has reduced the gap between interface and abstract classes to some extent by providing a default method feature. An interface does not have an implementation for a method is no longer valid now.



                                              Refer to this documentation page for more details.



                                              Have a look at this SE question for code examples to understand better.



                                              How should I have explained the difference between an Interface and an Abstract class?






                                              share|improve this answer















                                              I don't want to highlight the differences, which have been already said in many answers ( regarding public static final modifiers for variables in interface & support for protected, private methods in abstract classes)



                                              In simple terms, I would like to say:



                                              interface: To implement a contract by multiple unrelated objects



                                              abstract class: To implement the same or different behaviour among multiple related objects



                                              From the Oracle documentation



                                              Consider using abstract classes if :




                                              1. You want to share code among 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 (such as protected and private).

                                              3. You want to declare non-static or non-final fields.


                                              Consider using interfaces if :




                                              1. You expect that unrelated classes would implement your interface. For example,many unrelated objects can implement Serializable interface.

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

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


                                              abstract class establishes "is a" relation with concrete classes. interface provides "has a" capability for classes.



                                              If you are looking for Java as programming language, here are a few more updates:



                                              Java 8 has reduced the gap between interface and abstract classes to some extent by providing a default method feature. An interface does not have an implementation for a method is no longer valid now.



                                              Refer to this documentation page for more details.



                                              Have a look at this SE question for code examples to understand better.



                                              How should I have explained the difference between an Interface and an Abstract class?







                                              share|improve this answer














                                              share|improve this answer



                                              share|improve this answer








                                              edited May 23 '17 at 12:34









                                              Community

                                              11




                                              11










                                              answered Nov 27 '15 at 12:42









                                              Ravindra babuRavindra babu

                                              29.6k5161136




                                              29.6k5161136























                                                  27














                                                  The main point is that:





                                                  • Abstract is object oriented. It offers the basic data an 'object' should have and/or functions it should be able to do. It is concerned with the object's basic characteristics: what it has and what it can do. Hence objects which inherit from the same abstract class share the basic characteristics (generalization).


                                                  • Interface is functionality oriented. It defines functionalities an object should have. Regardless what object it is, as long as it can do these functionalities, which are defined in the interface, it's fine. It ignores everything else. An object/class can contain several (groups of) functionalities; hence it is possible for a class to implement multiple interfaces.






                                                  share|improve this answer


























                                                  • Thank you now we are getting somewhere with a good high level response. Funny how far deep into the comments you have to go to find a more understanding-based response.

                                                    – Andrew
                                                    Jan 16 '17 at 22:51













                                                  • The other answers are too technical. This is getting towards what I would feel is a 'right' answer. The whole point of OOP is semantics, and whether or not a private nested classes public getters are invoked through CPU expensive lookups is pretty much irrelevant here

                                                    – Sentinel
                                                    Mar 6 '17 at 21:41


















                                                  27














                                                  The main point is that:





                                                  • Abstract is object oriented. It offers the basic data an 'object' should have and/or functions it should be able to do. It is concerned with the object's basic characteristics: what it has and what it can do. Hence objects which inherit from the same abstract class share the basic characteristics (generalization).


                                                  • Interface is functionality oriented. It defines functionalities an object should have. Regardless what object it is, as long as it can do these functionalities, which are defined in the interface, it's fine. It ignores everything else. An object/class can contain several (groups of) functionalities; hence it is possible for a class to implement multiple interfaces.






                                                  share|improve this answer


























                                                  • Thank you now we are getting somewhere with a good high level response. Funny how far deep into the comments you have to go to find a more understanding-based response.

                                                    – Andrew
                                                    Jan 16 '17 at 22:51













                                                  • The other answers are too technical. This is getting towards what I would feel is a 'right' answer. The whole point of OOP is semantics, and whether or not a private nested classes public getters are invoked through CPU expensive lookups is pretty much irrelevant here

                                                    – Sentinel
                                                    Mar 6 '17 at 21:41
















                                                  27












                                                  27








                                                  27







                                                  The main point is that:





                                                  • Abstract is object oriented. It offers the basic data an 'object' should have and/or functions it should be able to do. It is concerned with the object's basic characteristics: what it has and what it can do. Hence objects which inherit from the same abstract class share the basic characteristics (generalization).


                                                  • Interface is functionality oriented. It defines functionalities an object should have. Regardless what object it is, as long as it can do these functionalities, which are defined in the interface, it's fine. It ignores everything else. An object/class can contain several (groups of) functionalities; hence it is possible for a class to implement multiple interfaces.






                                                  share|improve this answer















                                                  The main point is that:





                                                  • Abstract is object oriented. It offers the basic data an 'object' should have and/or functions it should be able to do. It is concerned with the object's basic characteristics: what it has and what it can do. Hence objects which inherit from the same abstract class share the basic characteristics (generalization).


                                                  • Interface is functionality oriented. It defines functionalities an object should have. Regardless what object it is, as long as it can do these functionalities, which are defined in the interface, it's fine. It ignores everything else. An object/class can contain several (groups of) functionalities; hence it is possible for a class to implement multiple interfaces.







                                                  share|improve this answer














                                                  share|improve this answer



                                                  share|improve this answer








                                                  edited Jun 30 '16 at 17:48









                                                  ragingasiancoder

                                                  608416




                                                  608416










                                                  answered Sep 29 '14 at 9:54









                                                  YusupYusup

                                                  686910




                                                  686910













                                                  • Thank you now we are getting somewhere with a good high level response. Funny how far deep into the comments you have to go to find a more understanding-based response.

                                                    – Andrew
                                                    Jan 16 '17 at 22:51













                                                  • The other answers are too technical. This is getting towards what I would feel is a 'right' answer. The whole point of OOP is semantics, and whether or not a private nested classes public getters are invoked through CPU expensive lookups is pretty much irrelevant here

                                                    – Sentinel
                                                    Mar 6 '17 at 21:41





















                                                  • Thank you now we are getting somewhere with a good high level response. Funny how far deep into the comments you have to go to find a more understanding-based response.

                                                    – Andrew
                                                    Jan 16 '17 at 22:51













                                                  • The other answers are too technical. This is getting towards what I would feel is a 'right' answer. The whole point of OOP is semantics, and whether or not a private nested classes public getters are invoked through CPU expensive lookups is pretty much irrelevant here

                                                    – Sentinel
                                                    Mar 6 '17 at 21:41



















                                                  Thank you now we are getting somewhere with a good high level response. Funny how far deep into the comments you have to go to find a more understanding-based response.

                                                  – Andrew
                                                  Jan 16 '17 at 22:51







                                                  Thank you now we are getting somewhere with a good high level response. Funny how far deep into the comments you have to go to find a more understanding-based response.

                                                  – Andrew
                                                  Jan 16 '17 at 22:51















                                                  The other answers are too technical. This is getting towards what I would feel is a 'right' answer. The whole point of OOP is semantics, and whether or not a private nested classes public getters are invoked through CPU expensive lookups is pretty much irrelevant here

                                                  – Sentinel
                                                  Mar 6 '17 at 21:41







                                                  The other answers are too technical. This is getting towards what I would feel is a 'right' answer. The whole point of OOP is semantics, and whether or not a private nested classes public getters are invoked through CPU expensive lookups is pretty much irrelevant here

                                                  – Sentinel
                                                  Mar 6 '17 at 21:41













                                                  24














                                                  I am constructing a building of 300 floors



                                                  The building's blueprint interface




                                                  • For example, Servlet(I)


                                                  Building constructed up to 200 floors - partially completed---abstract




                                                  • Partial implementation, for example, generic and HTTP servlet


                                                  Building construction completed-concrete




                                                  • Full implementation, for example, own servlet


                                                  Interface




                                                  • We don't know anything about implementation, just requirements. We can
                                                    go for an interface.

                                                  • Every method is public and abstract by default

                                                  • It is a 100% pure abstract class

                                                  • If we declare public we cannot declare private and protected

                                                  • If we declare abstract we cannot declare final, static, synchronized, strictfp and native

                                                  • Every interface has public, static and final

                                                  • Serialization and transient is not applicable, because we can't create an instance for in interface

                                                  • Non-volatile because it is final

                                                  • Every variable is static

                                                  • When we declare a variable inside an interface we need to initialize variables while declaring

                                                  • Instance and static block not allowed


                                                  Abstract




                                                  • Partial implementation

                                                  • It has an abstract method. An addition, it uses concrete

                                                  • No restriction for abstract class method modifiers

                                                  • No restriction for abstract class variable modifiers

                                                  • We cannot declare other modifiers except abstract

                                                  • No restriction to initialize variables


                                                  Taken from DurgaJobs Website






                                                  share|improve this answer


























                                                  • An abstract class can have a constructor

                                                    – vimal krishna
                                                    Jul 26 '17 at 8:33






                                                  • 3





                                                    I completely disagree with this view. The blueprint is a completely different concept to 'interface.' Blueprint is more analogous to a static model or design specification for a specific implementation. It is closer to 'class,' as the blueprint can be instantiated multiple times through its constructor, but even this is not close enough as the 'class' also contains the specification for how to construct (the ctor), and the means to do so. Interface as a concept is intended to represent some behavior, such as Heat Up/ Cool Down, that can be applied to arange of things, eg: buildings, ovens, etc

                                                    – Sentinel
                                                    Sep 18 '17 at 7:48
















                                                  24














                                                  I am constructing a building of 300 floors



                                                  The building's blueprint interface




                                                  • For example, Servlet(I)


                                                  Building constructed up to 200 floors - partially completed---abstract




                                                  • Partial implementation, for example, generic and HTTP servlet


                                                  Building construction completed-concrete




                                                  • Full implementation, for example, own servlet


                                                  Interface




                                                  • We don't know anything about implementation, just requirements. We can
                                                    go for an interface.

                                                  • Every method is public and abstract by default

                                                  • It is a 100% pure abstract class

                                                  • If we declare public we cannot declare private and protected

                                                  • If we declare abstract we cannot declare final, static, synchronized, strictfp and native

                                                  • Every interface has public, static and final

                                                  • Serialization and transient is not applicable, because we can't create an instance for in interface

                                                  • Non-volatile because it is final

                                                  • Every variable is static

                                                  • When we declare a variable inside an interface we need to initialize variables while declaring

                                                  • Instance and static block not allowed


                                                  Abstract




                                                  • Partial implementation

                                                  • It has an abstract method. An addition, it uses concrete

                                                  • No restriction for abstract class method modifiers

                                                  • No restriction for abstract class variable modifiers

                                                  • We cannot declare other modifiers except abstract

                                                  • No restriction to initialize variables


                                                  Taken from DurgaJobs Website






                                                  share|improve this answer


























                                                  • An abstract class can have a constructor

                                                    – vimal krishna
                                                    Jul 26 '17 at 8:33






                                                  • 3





                                                    I completely disagree with this view. The blueprint is a completely different concept to 'interface.' Blueprint is more analogous to a static model or design specification for a specific implementation. It is closer to 'class,' as the blueprint can be instantiated multiple times through its constructor, but even this is not close enough as the 'class' also contains the specification for how to construct (the ctor), and the means to do so. Interface as a concept is intended to represent some behavior, such as Heat Up/ Cool Down, that can be applied to arange of things, eg: buildings, ovens, etc

                                                    – Sentinel
                                                    Sep 18 '17 at 7:48














                                                  24












                                                  24








                                                  24







                                                  I am constructing a building of 300 floors



                                                  The building's blueprint interface




                                                  • For example, Servlet(I)


                                                  Building constructed up to 200 floors - partially completed---abstract




                                                  • Partial implementation, for example, generic and HTTP servlet


                                                  Building construction completed-concrete




                                                  • Full implementation, for example, own servlet


                                                  Interface




                                                  • We don't know anything about implementation, just requirements. We can
                                                    go for an interface.

                                                  • Every method is public and abstract by default

                                                  • It is a 100% pure abstract class

                                                  • If we declare public we cannot declare private and protected

                                                  • If we declare abstract we cannot declare final, static, synchronized, strictfp and native

                                                  • Every interface has public, static and final

                                                  • Serialization and transient is not applicable, because we can't create an instance for in interface

                                                  • Non-volatile because it is final

                                                  • Every variable is static

                                                  • When we declare a variable inside an interface we need to initialize variables while declaring

                                                  • Instance and static block not allowed


                                                  Abstract




                                                  • Partial implementation

                                                  • It has an abstract method. An addition, it uses concrete

                                                  • No restriction for abstract class method modifiers

                                                  • No restriction for abstract class variable modifiers

                                                  • We cannot declare other modifiers except abstract

                                                  • No restriction to initialize variables


                                                  Taken from DurgaJobs Website






                                                  share|improve this answer















                                                  I am constructing a building of 300 floors



                                                  The building's blueprint interface




                                                  • For example, Servlet(I)


                                                  Building constructed up to 200 floors - partially completed---abstract




                                                  • Partial implementation, for example, generic and HTTP servlet


                                                  Building construction completed-concrete




                                                  • Full implementation, for example, own servlet


                                                  Interface




                                                  • We don't know anything about implementation, just requirements. We can
                                                    go for an interface.

                                                  • Every method is public and abstract by default

                                                  • It is a 100% pure abstract class

                                                  • If we declare public we cannot declare private and protected

                                                  • If we declare abstract we cannot declare final, static, synchronized, strictfp and native

                                                  • Every interface has public, static and final

                                                  • Serialization and transient is not applicable, because we can't create an instance for in interface

                                                  • Non-volatile because it is final

                                                  • Every variable is static

                                                  • When we declare a variable inside an interface we need to initialize variables while declaring

                                                  • Instance and static block not allowed


                                                  Abstract




                                                  • Partial implementation

                                                  • It has an abstract method. An addition, it uses concrete

                                                  • No restriction for abstract class method modifiers

                                                  • No restriction for abstract class variable modifiers

                                                  • We cannot declare other modifiers except abstract

                                                  • No restriction to initialize variables


                                                  Taken from DurgaJobs Website







                                                  share|improve this answer














                                                  share|improve this answer



                                                  share|improve this answer








                                                  edited Apr 1 '18 at 9:35









                                                  Chamod Pathirana

                                                  9710




                                                  9710










                                                  answered Jul 9 '14 at 18:00









                                                  JaichanderJaichander

                                                  6272921




                                                  6272921













                                                  • An abstract class can have a constructor

                                                    – vimal krishna
                                                    Jul 26 '17 at 8:33






                                                  • 3





                                                    I completely disagree with this view. The blueprint is a completely different concept to 'interface.' Blueprint is more analogous to a static model or design specification for a specific implementation. It is closer to 'class,' as the blueprint can be instantiated multiple times through its constructor, but even this is not close enough as the 'class' also contains the specification for how to construct (the ctor), and the means to do so. Interface as a concept is intended to represent some behavior, such as Heat Up/ Cool Down, that can be applied to arange of things, eg: buildings, ovens, etc

                                                    – Sentinel
                                                    Sep 18 '17 at 7:48



















                                                  • An abstract class can have a constructor

                                                    – vimal krishna
                                                    Jul 26 '17 at 8:33






                                                  • 3





                                                    I completely disagree with this view. The blueprint is a completely different concept to 'interface.' Blueprint is more analogous to a static model or design specification for a specific implementation. It is closer to 'class,' as the blueprint can be instantiated multiple times through its constructor, but even this is not close enough as the 'class' also contains the specification for how to construct (the ctor), and the means to do so. Interface as a concept is intended to represent some behavior, such as Heat Up/ Cool Down, that can be applied to arange of things, eg: buildings, ovens, etc

                                                    – Sentinel
                                                    Sep 18 '17 at 7:48

















                                                  An abstract class can have a constructor

                                                  – vimal krishna
                                                  Jul 26 '17 at 8:33





                                                  An abstract class can have a constructor

                                                  – vimal krishna
                                                  Jul 26 '17 at 8:33




                                                  3




                                                  3





                                                  I completely disagree with this view. The blueprint is a completely different concept to 'interface.' Blueprint is more analogous to a static model or design specification for a specific implementation. It is closer to 'class,' as the blueprint can be instantiated multiple times through its constructor, but even this is not close enough as the 'class' also contains the specification for how to construct (the ctor), and the means to do so. Interface as a concept is intended to represent some behavior, such as Heat Up/ Cool Down, that can be applied to arange of things, eg: buildings, ovens, etc

                                                  – Sentinel
                                                  Sep 18 '17 at 7:48





                                                  I completely disagree with this view. The blueprint is a completely different concept to 'interface.' Blueprint is more analogous to a static model or design specification for a specific implementation. It is closer to 'class,' as the blueprint can be instantiated multiple times through its constructor, but even this is not close enough as the 'class' also contains the specification for how to construct (the ctor), and the means to do so. Interface as a concept is intended to represent some behavior, such as Heat Up/ Cool Down, that can be applied to arange of things, eg: buildings, ovens, etc

                                                  – Sentinel
                                                  Sep 18 '17 at 7:48











                                                  23














                                                  When you want to provide polymorphic behaviour in an inheritance hierarchy, use abstract classes.



                                                  When you want polymorphic behaviour for classes which are completely unrelated, use an interface.






                                                  share|improve this answer






























                                                    23














                                                    When you want to provide polymorphic behaviour in an inheritance hierarchy, use abstract classes.



                                                    When you want polymorphic behaviour for classes which are completely unrelated, use an interface.






                                                    share|improve this answer




























                                                      23












                                                      23








                                                      23







                                                      When you want to provide polymorphic behaviour in an inheritance hierarchy, use abstract classes.



                                                      When you want polymorphic behaviour for classes which are completely unrelated, use an interface.






                                                      share|improve this answer















                                                      When you want to provide polymorphic behaviour in an inheritance hierarchy, use abstract classes.



                                                      When you want polymorphic behaviour for classes which are completely unrelated, use an interface.







                                                      share|improve this answer














                                                      share|improve this answer



                                                      share|improve this answer








                                                      edited Nov 20 '16 at 14:21









                                                      Peter Mortensen

                                                      13.6k1984111




                                                      13.6k1984111










                                                      answered May 28 '12 at 4:42









                                                      sculptorsculptor

                                                      23922




                                                      23922























                                                          18














                                                          Let's work on this question again:



                                                          The first thing to let you know is that 1/1 and 1*1 results in the same, but it does not mean that multiplication and division are same. Obviously, they hold some good relationship, but mind you both are different.



                                                          I will point out main differences, and the rest have already been explained:



                                                          Abstract classes are useful for modeling a class hierarchy. At first glance of any requirement, we are partially clear on what exactly is to be built, but we know what to build. And so your abstract classes are your base classes.



                                                          Interfaces are useful for letting other hierarchy or classes to know that what I am capable of doing. And when you say I am capable of something, you must have that capacity. Interfaces will mark it as compulsory for a class to implement the same functionalities.






                                                          share|improve this answer


























                                                          • Good answer, but the math metaphor is useless and made me waste roughly an equivalent amount of time reading it as writing this comment. Now multiply that by all the other people that have read this question.

                                                            – Andrew
                                                            Jan 16 '17 at 22:49











                                                          • " math metaphor is useless" , why do you think so ?

                                                            – Dhananjay
                                                            Mar 16 '17 at 17:01
















                                                          18














                                                          Let's work on this question again:



                                                          The first thing to let you know is that 1/1 and 1*1 results in the same, but it does not mean that multiplication and division are same. Obviously, they hold some good relationship, but mind you both are different.



                                                          I will point out main differences, and the rest have already been explained:



                                                          Abstract classes are useful for modeling a class hierarchy. At first glance of any requirement, we are partially clear on what exactly is to be built, but we know what to build. And so your abstract classes are your base classes.



                                                          Interfaces are useful for letting other hierarchy or classes to know that what I am capable of doing. And when you say I am capable of something, you must have that capacity. Interfaces will mark it as compulsory for a class to implement the same functionalities.






                                                          share|improve this answer


























                                                          • Good answer, but the math metaphor is useless and made me waste roughly an equivalent amount of time reading it as writing this comment. Now multiply that by all the other people that have read this question.

                                                            – Andrew
                                                            Jan 16 '17 at 22:49











                                                          • " math metaphor is useless" , why do you think so ?

                                                            – Dhananjay
                                                            Mar 16 '17 at 17:01














                                                          18












                                                          18








                                                          18







                                                          Let's work on this question again:



                                                          The first thing to let you know is that 1/1 and 1*1 results in the same, but it does not mean that multiplication and division are same. Obviously, they hold some good relationship, but mind you both are different.



                                                          I will point out main differences, and the rest have already been explained:



                                                          Abstract classes are useful for modeling a class hierarchy. At first glance of any requirement, we are partially clear on what exactly is to be built, but we know what to build. And so your abstract classes are your base classes.



                                                          Interfaces are useful for letting other hierarchy or classes to know that what I am capable of doing. And when you say I am capable of something, you must have that capacity. Interfaces will mark it as compulsory for a class to implement the same functionalities.






                                                          share|improve this answer















                                                          Let's work on this question again:



                                                          The first thing to let you know is that 1/1 and 1*1 results in the same, but it does not mean that multiplication and division are same. Obviously, they hold some good relationship, but mind you both are different.



                                                          I will point out main differences, and the rest have already been explained:



                                                          Abstract classes are useful for modeling a class hierarchy. At first glance of any requirement, we are partially clear on what exactly is to be built, but we know what to build. And so your abstract classes are your base classes.



                                                          Interfaces are useful for letting other hierarchy or classes to know that what I am capable of doing. And when you say I am capable of something, you must have that capacity. Interfaces will mark it as compulsory for a class to implement the same functionalities.







                                                          share|improve this answer














                                                          share|improve this answer



                                                          share|improve this answer








                                                          edited Nov 20 '16 at 14:18









                                                          Peter Mortensen

                                                          13.6k1984111




                                                          13.6k1984111










                                                          answered Apr 11 '12 at 5:18









                                                          DhananjayDhananjay

                                                          2,73921618




                                                          2,73921618













                                                          • Good answer, but the math metaphor is useless and made me waste roughly an equivalent amount of time reading it as writing this comment. Now multiply that by all the other people that have read this question.

                                                            – Andrew
                                                            Jan 16 '17 at 22:49











                                                          • " math metaphor is useless" , why do you think so ?

                                                            – Dhananjay
                                                            Mar 16 '17 at 17:01



















                                                          • Good answer, but the math metaphor is useless and made me waste roughly an equivalent amount of time reading it as writing this comment. Now multiply that by all the other people that have read this question.

                                                            – Andrew
                                                            Jan 16 '17 at 22:49











                                                          • " math metaphor is useless" , why do you think so ?

                                                            – Dhananjay
                                                            Mar 16 '17 at 17:01

















                                                          Good answer, but the math metaphor is useless and made me waste roughly an equivalent amount of time reading it as writing this comment. Now multiply that by all the other people that have read this question.

                                                          – Andrew
                                                          Jan 16 '17 at 22:49





                                                          Good answer, but the math metaphor is useless and made me waste roughly an equivalent amount of time reading it as writing this comment. Now multiply that by all the other people that have read this question.

                                                          – Andrew
                                                          Jan 16 '17 at 22:49













                                                          " math metaphor is useless" , why do you think so ?

                                                          – Dhananjay
                                                          Mar 16 '17 at 17:01





                                                          " math metaphor is useless" , why do you think so ?

                                                          – Dhananjay
                                                          Mar 16 '17 at 17:01











                                                          12














                                                          It's pretty simple actually.



                                                          You can think of an interface as a class which is only allowed to have abstract methods and nothing else.



                                                          So an interface can only "declare" and not define the behavior you want the class to have.



                                                          An abstract class allows you to do both declare (using abstract methods) as well as define (using full method implementations) the behavior you want the class to have.



                                                          And a regular class only allows you to define, not declare, the behavior/actions you want the class to have.



                                                          One last thing,



                                                          In Java, you can implement multiple interfaces, but you can only extend one (Abstract Class or Class)...



                                                          This means inheritance of defined behavior is restricted to only allow one per class... ie if you wanted a class that encapsulated behavior from Classes A,B&C you would need to do the following: Class A extends B, Class C extends A .. its a bit of a round about way to have multiple inheritance...



                                                          Interfaces on the other hand, you could simply do: interface C implements A, B



                                                          So in effect Java supports multiple inheritance only in "declared behavior" ie interfaces, and only single inheritance with defined behavior.. unless you do the round about way I described...



                                                          Hopefully that makes sense.






                                                          share|improve this answer






























                                                            12














                                                            It's pretty simple actually.



                                                            You can think of an interface as a class which is only allowed to have abstract methods and nothing else.



                                                            So an interface can only "declare" and not define the behavior you want the class to have.



                                                            An abstract class allows you to do both declare (using abstract methods) as well as define (using full method implementations) the behavior you want the class to have.



                                                            And a regular class only allows you to define, not declare, the behavior/actions you want the class to have.



                                                            One last thing,



                                                            In Java, you can implement multiple interfaces, but you can only extend one (Abstract Class or Class)...



                                                            This means inheritance of defined behavior is restricted to only allow one per class... ie if you wanted a class that encapsulated behavior from Classes A,B&C you would need to do the following: Class A extends B, Class C extends A .. its a bit of a round about way to have multiple inheritance...



                                                            Interfaces on the other hand, you could simply do: interface C implements A, B



                                                            So in effect Java supports multiple inheritance only in "declared behavior" ie interfaces, and only single inheritance with defined behavior.. unless you do the round about way I described...



                                                            Hopefully that makes sense.






                                                            share|improve this answer




























                                                              12












                                                              12








                                                              12







                                                              It's pretty simple actually.



                                                              You can think of an interface as a class which is only allowed to have abstract methods and nothing else.



                                                              So an interface can only "declare" and not define the behavior you want the class to have.



                                                              An abstract class allows you to do both declare (using abstract methods) as well as define (using full method implementations) the behavior you want the class to have.



                                                              And a regular class only allows you to define, not declare, the behavior/actions you want the class to have.



                                                              One last thing,



                                                              In Java, you can implement multiple interfaces, but you can only extend one (Abstract Class or Class)...



                                                              This means inheritance of defined behavior is restricted to only allow one per class... ie if you wanted a class that encapsulated behavior from Classes A,B&C you would need to do the following: Class A extends B, Class C extends A .. its a bit of a round about way to have multiple inheritance...



                                                              Interfaces on the other hand, you could simply do: interface C implements A, B



                                                              So in effect Java supports multiple inheritance only in "declared behavior" ie interfaces, and only single inheritance with defined behavior.. unless you do the round about way I described...



                                                              Hopefully that makes sense.






                                                              share|improve this answer















                                                              It's pretty simple actually.



                                                              You can think of an interface as a class which is only allowed to have abstract methods and nothing else.



                                                              So an interface can only "declare" and not define the behavior you want the class to have.



                                                              An abstract class allows you to do both declare (using abstract methods) as well as define (using full method implementations) the behavior you want the class to have.



                                                              And a regular class only allows you to define, not declare, the behavior/actions you want the class to have.



                                                              One last thing,



                                                              In Java, you can implement multiple interfaces, but you can only extend one (Abstract Class or Class)...



                                                              This means inheritance of defined behavior is restricted to only allow one per class... ie if you wanted a class that encapsulated behavior from Classes A,B&C you would need to do the following: Class A extends B, Class C extends A .. its a bit of a round about way to have multiple inheritance...



                                                              Interfaces on the other hand, you could simply do: interface C implements A, B



                                                              So in effect Java supports multiple inheritance only in "declared behavior" ie interfaces, and only single inheritance with defined behavior.. unless you do the round about way I described...



                                                              Hopefully that makes sense.







                                                              share|improve this answer














                                                              share|improve this answer



                                                              share|improve this answer








                                                              edited Mar 17 '17 at 22:31

























                                                              answered Jul 22 '14 at 23:36









                                                              g00dnatur3g00dnatur3

                                                              828613




                                                              828613























                                                                  10














                                                                  The comparison of interface vs. abstract class is wrong. There should be two other comparisons instead: 1) interface vs. class and 2) abstract vs. final class.



                                                                  Interface vs Class



                                                                  Interface is a contract between two objects. E.g., I'm a Postman and you're a Package to deliver. I expect you to know your delivery address. When someone gives me a Package, it has to know its delivery address:



                                                                  interface Package {
                                                                  String address();
                                                                  }


                                                                  Class is a group of objects that obey the contract. E.g., I'm a box from "Box" group and I obey the contract required by the Postman. At the same time I obey other contracts:



                                                                  class Box implements Package, Property {
                                                                  @Override
                                                                  String address() {
                                                                  return "5th Street, New York, NY";
                                                                  }
                                                                  @Override
                                                                  Human owner() {
                                                                  // this method is part of another contract
                                                                  }
                                                                  }


                                                                  Abstract vs Final



                                                                  Abstract class is a group of incomplete objects. They can't be used, because they miss some parts. E.g., I'm an abstract GPS-aware box - I know how to check my position on the map:



                                                                  abstract class GpsBox implements Package {
                                                                  @Override
                                                                  public abstract String address();
                                                                  protected Coordinates whereAmI() {
                                                                  // connect to GPS and return my current position
                                                                  }
                                                                  }


                                                                  This class, if inherited/extended by another class, can be very useful. But by itself - it is useless, since it can't have objects. Abstract classes can be building elements of final classes.



                                                                  Final class is a group of complete objects, which can be used, but can't be modified. They know exactly how to work and what to do. E.g., I'm a Box that always goes to the address specified during its construction:



                                                                  final class DirectBox implements Package {
                                                                  private final String to;
                                                                  public DirectBox(String addr) {
                                                                  this.to = addr;
                                                                  }
                                                                  @Override
                                                                  public String address() {
                                                                  return this.to;
                                                                  }
                                                                  }


                                                                  In most languages, like Java or C++, it is possible to have just a class, neither abstract nor final. Such a class can be inherited and can be instantiated. I don't think this is strictly in line with object-oriented paradigm, though.



                                                                  Again, comparing interfaces with abstract classes is not correct.






                                                                  share|improve this answer




























                                                                    10














                                                                    The comparison of interface vs. abstract class is wrong. There should be two other comparisons instead: 1) interface vs. class and 2) abstract vs. final class.



                                                                    Interface vs Class



                                                                    Interface is a contract between two objects. E.g., I'm a Postman and you're a Package to deliver. I expect you to know your delivery address. When someone gives me a Package, it has to know its delivery address:



                                                                    interface Package {
                                                                    String address();
                                                                    }


                                                                    Class is a group of objects that obey the contract. E.g., I'm a box from "Box" group and I obey the contract required by the Postman. At the same time I obey other contracts:



                                                                    class Box implements Package, Property {
                                                                    @Override
                                                                    String address() {
                                                                    return "5th Street, New York, NY";
                                                                    }
                                                                    @Override
                                                                    Human owner() {
                                                                    // this method is part of another contract
                                                                    }
                                                                    }


                                                                    Abstract vs Final



                                                                    Abstract class is a group of incomplete objects. They can't be used, because they miss some parts. E.g., I'm an abstract GPS-aware box - I know how to check my position on the map:



                                                                    abstract class GpsBox implements Package {
                                                                    @Override
                                                                    public abstract String address();
                                                                    protected Coordinates whereAmI() {
                                                                    // connect to GPS and return my current position
                                                                    }
                                                                    }


                                                                    This class, if inherited/extended by another class, can be very useful. But by itself - it is useless, since it can't have objects. Abstract classes can be building elements of final classes.



                                                                    Final class is a group of complete objects, which can be used, but can't be modified. They know exactly how to work and what to do. E.g., I'm a Box that always goes to the address specified during its construction:



                                                                    final class DirectBox implements Package {
                                                                    private final String to;
                                                                    public DirectBox(String addr) {
                                                                    this.to = addr;
                                                                    }
                                                                    @Override
                                                                    public String address() {
                                                                    return this.to;
                                                                    }
                                                                    }


                                                                    In most languages, like Java or C++, it is possible to have just a class, neither abstract nor final. Such a class can be inherited and can be instantiated. I don't think this is strictly in line with object-oriented paradigm, though.



                                                                    Again, comparing interfaces with abstract classes is not correct.






                                                                    share|improve this answer


























                                                                      10












                                                                      10








                                                                      10







                                                                      The comparison of interface vs. abstract class is wrong. There should be two other comparisons instead: 1) interface vs. class and 2) abstract vs. final class.



                                                                      Interface vs Class



                                                                      Interface is a contract between two objects. E.g., I'm a Postman and you're a Package to deliver. I expect you to know your delivery address. When someone gives me a Package, it has to know its delivery address:



                                                                      interface Package {
                                                                      String address();
                                                                      }


                                                                      Class is a group of objects that obey the contract. E.g., I'm a box from "Box" group and I obey the contract required by the Postman. At the same time I obey other contracts:



                                                                      class Box implements Package, Property {
                                                                      @Override
                                                                      String address() {
                                                                      return "5th Street, New York, NY";
                                                                      }
                                                                      @Override
                                                                      Human owner() {
                                                                      // this method is part of another contract
                                                                      }
                                                                      }


                                                                      Abstract vs Final



                                                                      Abstract class is a group of incomplete objects. They can't be used, because they miss some parts. E.g., I'm an abstract GPS-aware box - I know how to check my position on the map:



                                                                      abstract class GpsBox implements Package {
                                                                      @Override
                                                                      public abstract String address();
                                                                      protected Coordinates whereAmI() {
                                                                      // connect to GPS and return my current position
                                                                      }
                                                                      }


                                                                      This class, if inherited/extended by another class, can be very useful. But by itself - it is useless, since it can't have objects. Abstract classes can be building elements of final classes.



                                                                      Final class is a group of complete objects, which can be used, but can't be modified. They know exactly how to work and what to do. E.g., I'm a Box that always goes to the address specified during its construction:



                                                                      final class DirectBox implements Package {
                                                                      private final String to;
                                                                      public DirectBox(String addr) {
                                                                      this.to = addr;
                                                                      }
                                                                      @Override
                                                                      public String address() {
                                                                      return this.to;
                                                                      }
                                                                      }


                                                                      In most languages, like Java or C++, it is possible to have just a class, neither abstract nor final. Such a class can be inherited and can be instantiated. I don't think this is strictly in line with object-oriented paradigm, though.



                                                                      Again, comparing interfaces with abstract classes is not correct.






                                                                      share|improve this answer













                                                                      The comparison of interface vs. abstract class is wrong. There should be two other comparisons instead: 1) interface vs. class and 2) abstract vs. final class.



                                                                      Interface vs Class



                                                                      Interface is a contract between two objects. E.g., I'm a Postman and you're a Package to deliver. I expect you to know your delivery address. When someone gives me a Package, it has to know its delivery address:



                                                                      interface Package {
                                                                      String address();
                                                                      }


                                                                      Class is a group of objects that obey the contract. E.g., I'm a box from "Box" group and I obey the contract required by the Postman. At the same time I obey other contracts:



                                                                      class Box implements Package, Property {
                                                                      @Override
                                                                      String address() {
                                                                      return "5th Street, New York, NY";
                                                                      }
                                                                      @Override
                                                                      Human owner() {
                                                                      // this method is part of another contract
                                                                      }
                                                                      }


                                                                      Abstract vs Final



                                                                      Abstract class is a group of incomplete objects. They can't be used, because they miss some parts. E.g., I'm an abstract GPS-aware box - I know how to check my position on the map:



                                                                      abstract class GpsBox implements Package {
                                                                      @Override
                                                                      public abstract String address();
                                                                      protected Coordinates whereAmI() {
                                                                      // connect to GPS and return my current position
                                                                      }
                                                                      }


                                                                      This class, if inherited/extended by another class, can be very useful. But by itself - it is useless, since it can't have objects. Abstract classes can be building elements of final classes.



                                                                      Final class is a group of complete objects, which can be used, but can't be modified. They know exactly how to work and what to do. E.g., I'm a Box that always goes to the address specified during its construction:



                                                                      final class DirectBox implements Package {
                                                                      private final String to;
                                                                      public DirectBox(String addr) {
                                                                      this.to = addr;
                                                                      }
                                                                      @Override
                                                                      public String address() {
                                                                      return this.to;
                                                                      }
                                                                      }


                                                                      In most languages, like Java or C++, it is possible to have just a class, neither abstract nor final. Such a class can be inherited and can be instantiated. I don't think this is strictly in line with object-oriented paradigm, though.



                                                                      Again, comparing interfaces with abstract classes is not correct.







                                                                      share|improve this answer












                                                                      share|improve this answer



                                                                      share|improve this answer










                                                                      answered Jul 24 '14 at 21:57









                                                                      yegor256yegor256

                                                                      56k87365508




                                                                      56k87365508























                                                                          9














                                                                          The only difference is that one can participate in multiple inheritance and other cannot.



                                                                          The definition of an interface has changed over time. Do you think an interface just has method declarations only and are just contracts? What about static final variables and what about default definitions after Java 8?



                                                                          Interfaces were introduced to Java because of the diamond problem with multiple inheritance and that's what they actually intend to do.



                                                                          Interfaces are the constructs that were created to get away with the multiple inheritance problem and can have abstract methods, default definitions and static final variables.



                                                                          See Why does Java allow static final variables in interfaces when they are only intended to be contracts?.






                                                                          share|improve this answer






























                                                                            9














                                                                            The only difference is that one can participate in multiple inheritance and other cannot.



                                                                            The definition of an interface has changed over time. Do you think an interface just has method declarations only and are just contracts? What about static final variables and what about default definitions after Java 8?



                                                                            Interfaces were introduced to Java because of the diamond problem with multiple inheritance and that's what they actually intend to do.



                                                                            Interfaces are the constructs that were created to get away with the multiple inheritance problem and can have abstract methods, default definitions and static final variables.



                                                                            See Why does Java allow static final variables in interfaces when they are only intended to be contracts?.






                                                                            share|improve this answer




























                                                                              9












                                                                              9








                                                                              9







                                                                              The only difference is that one can participate in multiple inheritance and other cannot.



                                                                              The definition of an interface has changed over time. Do you think an interface just has method declarations only and are just contracts? What about static final variables and what about default definitions after Java 8?



                                                                              Interfaces were introduced to Java because of the diamond problem with multiple inheritance and that's what they actually intend to do.



                                                                              Interfaces are the constructs that were created to get away with the multiple inheritance problem and can have abstract methods, default definitions and static final variables.



                                                                              See Why does Java allow static final variables in interfaces when they are only intended to be contracts?.






                                                                              share|improve this answer















                                                                              The only difference is that one can participate in multiple inheritance and other cannot.



                                                                              The definition of an interface has changed over time. Do you think an interface just has method declarations only and are just contracts? What about static final variables and what about default definitions after Java 8?



                                                                              Interfaces were introduced to Java because of the diamond problem with multiple inheritance and that's what they actually intend to do.



                                                                              Interfaces are the constructs that were created to get away with the multiple inheritance problem and can have abstract methods, default definitions and static final variables.



                                                                              See Why does Java allow static final variables in interfaces when they are only intended to be contracts?.







                                                                              share|improve this answer














                                                                              share|improve this answer



                                                                              share|improve this answer








                                                                              edited Dec 5 '16 at 16:44

























                                                                              answered Aug 25 '14 at 17:53









                                                                              Vivek VermaniVivek Vermani

                                                                              1,5771035




                                                                              1,5771035























                                                                                  8














                                                                                  In short the differences are the following:



                                                                                  Syntactical Differences Between Interface and Abstract Class:




                                                                                  1. Methods and members of an abstract class can have any visibility. All methods of an interface must be public. //Does not hold true from Java 9 anymore

                                                                                  2. A concrete child class of an Abstract Class must define all the abstract methods. An Abstract child class can have abstract methods. An interface extending another interface need not provide default implementation for methods inherited from the parent interface.

                                                                                  3. A child class can only extend a single class. An interface can extend multiple interfaces. A class can implement multiple interfaces.

                                                                                  4. A child class can define abstract methods with the same or less restrictive visibility, whereas class implementing an interface must define all interface methods as public.


                                                                                  5. Abstract Classes can have constructors but not interfaces.

                                                                                  6. Interfaces from Java 9 have private static methods.


                                                                                  In Interfaces now:



                                                                                  public static - supported
                                                                                  public abstract - supported
                                                                                  public default - supported
                                                                                  private static - supported
                                                                                  private abstract - compile error
                                                                                  private default - compile error
                                                                                  private - supported






                                                                                  share|improve this answer






























                                                                                    8














                                                                                    In short the differences are the following:



                                                                                    Syntactical Differences Between Interface and Abstract Class:




                                                                                    1. Methods and members of an abstract class can have any visibility. All methods of an interface must be public. //Does not hold true from Java 9 anymore

                                                                                    2. A concrete child class of an Abstract Class must define all the abstract methods. An Abstract child class can have abstract methods. An interface extending another interface need not provide default implementation for methods inherited from the parent interface.

                                                                                    3. A child class can only extend a single class. An interface can extend multiple interfaces. A class can implement multiple interfaces.

                                                                                    4. A child class can define abstract methods with the same or less restrictive visibility, whereas class implementing an interface must define all interface methods as public.


                                                                                    5. Abstract Classes can have constructors but not interfaces.

                                                                                    6. Interfaces from Java 9 have private static methods.


                                                                                    In Interfaces now:



                                                                                    public static - supported
                                                                                    public abstract - supported
                                                                                    public default - supported
                                                                                    private static - supported
                                                                                    private abstract - compile error
                                                                                    private default - compile error
                                                                                    private - supported






                                                                                    share|improve this answer




























                                                                                      8












                                                                                      8








                                                                                      8







                                                                                      In short the differences are the following:



                                                                                      Syntactical Differences Between Interface and Abstract Class:




                                                                                      1. Methods and members of an abstract class can have any visibility. All methods of an interface must be public. //Does not hold true from Java 9 anymore

                                                                                      2. A concrete child class of an Abstract Class must define all the abstract methods. An Abstract child class can have abstract methods. An interface extending another interface need not provide default implementation for methods inherited from the parent interface.

                                                                                      3. A child class can only extend a single class. An interface can extend multiple interfaces. A class can implement multiple interfaces.

                                                                                      4. A child class can define abstract methods with the same or less restrictive visibility, whereas class implementing an interface must define all interface methods as public.


                                                                                      5. Abstract Classes can have constructors but not interfaces.

                                                                                      6. Interfaces from Java 9 have private static methods.


                                                                                      In Interfaces now:



                                                                                      public static - supported
                                                                                      public abstract - supported
                                                                                      public default - supported
                                                                                      private static - supported
                                                                                      private abstract - compile error
                                                                                      private default - compile error
                                                                                      private - supported






                                                                                      share|improve this answer















                                                                                      In short the differences are the following:



                                                                                      Syntactical Differences Between Interface and Abstract Class:




                                                                                      1. Methods and members of an abstract class can have any visibility. All methods of an interface must be public. //Does not hold true from Java 9 anymore

                                                                                      2. A concrete child class of an Abstract Class must define all the abstract methods. An Abstract child class can have abstract methods. An interface extending another interface need not provide default implementation for methods inherited from the parent interface.

                                                                                      3. A child class can only extend a single class. An interface can extend multiple interfaces. A class can implement multiple interfaces.

                                                                                      4. A child class can define abstract methods with the same or less restrictive visibility, whereas class implementing an interface must define all interface methods as public.


                                                                                      5. Abstract Classes can have constructors but not interfaces.

                                                                                      6. Interfaces from Java 9 have private static methods.


                                                                                      In Interfaces now:



                                                                                      public static - supported
                                                                                      public abstract - supported
                                                                                      public default - supported
                                                                                      private static - supported
                                                                                      private abstract - compile error
                                                                                      private default - compile error
                                                                                      private - supported







                                                                                      share|improve this answer














                                                                                      share|improve this answer



                                                                                      share|improve this answer








                                                                                      edited Oct 27 '17 at 5:18

























                                                                                      answered Jun 27 '17 at 1:43









                                                                                      Pritam BanerjeePritam Banerjee

                                                                                      10.8k64465




                                                                                      10.8k64465























                                                                                          7














                                                                                          Interface: Turn ( Turn Left, Turn Right.)



                                                                                          Abstract Class: Wheel.



                                                                                          Class: Steering Wheel, derives from Wheel, exposes Interface Turn



                                                                                          One is for categorizing behavior that can be offered across a diverse range of things, the other is for modelling an ontology of things.






                                                                                          share|improve this answer




























                                                                                            7














                                                                                            Interface: Turn ( Turn Left, Turn Right.)



                                                                                            Abstract Class: Wheel.



                                                                                            Class: Steering Wheel, derives from Wheel, exposes Interface Turn



                                                                                            One is for categorizing behavior that can be offered across a diverse range of things, the other is for modelling an ontology of things.






                                                                                            share|improve this answer


























                                                                                              7












                                                                                              7








                                                                                              7







                                                                                              Interface: Turn ( Turn Left, Turn Right.)



                                                                                              Abstract Class: Wheel.



                                                                                              Class: Steering Wheel, derives from Wheel, exposes Interface Turn



                                                                                              One is for categorizing behavior that can be offered across a diverse range of things, the other is for modelling an ontology of things.






                                                                                              share|improve this answer













                                                                                              Interface: Turn ( Turn Left, Turn Right.)



                                                                                              Abstract Class: Wheel.



                                                                                              Class: Steering Wheel, derives from Wheel, exposes Interface Turn



                                                                                              One is for categorizing behavior that can be offered across a diverse range of things, the other is for modelling an ontology of things.







                                                                                              share|improve this answer












                                                                                              share|improve this answer



                                                                                              share|improve this answer










                                                                                              answered Mar 6 '17 at 21:46









                                                                                              SentinelSentinel

                                                                                              2,2422032




                                                                                              2,2422032























                                                                                                  6














                                                                                                  If you have some common methods that can be used by multiple classes go for abstract classes.
                                                                                                  Else if you want the classes to follow some definite blueprint go for interfaces.



                                                                                                  Following examples demonstrate this.



                                                                                                  Abstract class in Java:



                                                                                                  abstract class animals
                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                  // They all love to eat. So let's implement them for everybody
                                                                                                  void eat()
                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                  System.out.println("Eating...");
                                                                                                  }
                                                                                                  // The make different sounds. They will provide their own implementation.
                                                                                                  abstract void sound();
                                                                                                  }

                                                                                                  class dog extends animals
                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                  void sound()
                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                  System.out.println("Woof Woof");
                                                                                                  }
                                                                                                  }

                                                                                                  class cat extends animals
                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                  void sound()
                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                  System.out.println("Meoww");
                                                                                                  }
                                                                                                  }


                                                                                                  Following is an implementation of interface in Java:



                                                                                                  interface Shape
                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                  void display();
                                                                                                  double area();
                                                                                                  }

                                                                                                  class Rectangle implements Shape
                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                  int length, width;
                                                                                                  Rectangle(int length, int width)
                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                  this.length = length;
                                                                                                  this.width = width;
                                                                                                  }
                                                                                                  @Override
                                                                                                  public void display()
                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                  System.out.println("****n* *n* *n****");
                                                                                                  }
                                                                                                  @Override
                                                                                                  public double area()
                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                  return (double)(length*width);
                                                                                                  }
                                                                                                  }

                                                                                                  class Circle implements Shape
                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                  double pi = 3.14;
                                                                                                  int radius;
                                                                                                  Circle(int radius)
                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                  this.radius = radius;
                                                                                                  }
                                                                                                  @Override
                                                                                                  public void display()
                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                  System.out.println("O"); // :P
                                                                                                  }
                                                                                                  @Override
                                                                                                  public double area()
                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                  return (double)((pi*radius*radius)/2);
                                                                                                  }
                                                                                                  }


                                                                                                  Some Important Key points in a nutshell:




                                                                                                  1. The variables declared in Java interface are by default final. Abstract classes can have non-final variables.


                                                                                                  2. The variables declared in Java interface are by default static. Abstract classes can have non-static variables.


                                                                                                  3. Members of a Java interface are public by default. A Java abstract class can have the usual flavors of class members like private, protected, etc..







                                                                                                  share|improve this answer






























                                                                                                    6














                                                                                                    If you have some common methods that can be used by multiple classes go for abstract classes.
                                                                                                    Else if you want the classes to follow some definite blueprint go for interfaces.



                                                                                                    Following examples demonstrate this.



                                                                                                    Abstract class in Java:



                                                                                                    abstract class animals
                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                    // They all love to eat. So let's implement them for everybody
                                                                                                    void eat()
                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                    System.out.println("Eating...");
                                                                                                    }
                                                                                                    // The make different sounds. They will provide their own implementation.
                                                                                                    abstract void sound();
                                                                                                    }

                                                                                                    class dog extends animals
                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                    void sound()
                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                    System.out.println("Woof Woof");
                                                                                                    }
                                                                                                    }

                                                                                                    class cat extends animals
                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                    void sound()
                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                    System.out.println("Meoww");
                                                                                                    }
                                                                                                    }


                                                                                                    Following is an implementation of interface in Java:



                                                                                                    interface Shape
                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                    void display();
                                                                                                    double area();
                                                                                                    }

                                                                                                    class Rectangle implements Shape
                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                    int length, width;
                                                                                                    Rectangle(int length, int width)
                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                    this.length = length;
                                                                                                    this.width = width;
                                                                                                    }
                                                                                                    @Override
                                                                                                    public void display()
                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                    System.out.println("****n* *n* *n****");
                                                                                                    }
                                                                                                    @Override
                                                                                                    public double area()
                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                    return (double)(length*width);
                                                                                                    }
                                                                                                    }

                                                                                                    class Circle implements Shape
                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                    double pi = 3.14;
                                                                                                    int radius;
                                                                                                    Circle(int radius)
                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                    this.radius = radius;
                                                                                                    }
                                                                                                    @Override
                                                                                                    public void display()
                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                    System.out.println("O"); // :P
                                                                                                    }
                                                                                                    @Override
                                                                                                    public double area()
                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                    return (double)((pi*radius*radius)/2);
                                                                                                    }
                                                                                                    }


                                                                                                    Some Important Key points in a nutshell:




                                                                                                    1. The variables declared in Java interface are by default final. Abstract classes can have non-final variables.


                                                                                                    2. The variables declared in Java interface are by default static. Abstract classes can have non-static variables.


                                                                                                    3. Members of a Java interface are public by default. A Java abstract class can have the usual flavors of class members like private, protected, etc..







                                                                                                    share|improve this answer




























                                                                                                      6












                                                                                                      6








                                                                                                      6







                                                                                                      If you have some common methods that can be used by multiple classes go for abstract classes.
                                                                                                      Else if you want the classes to follow some definite blueprint go for interfaces.



                                                                                                      Following examples demonstrate this.



                                                                                                      Abstract class in Java:



                                                                                                      abstract class animals
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      // They all love to eat. So let's implement them for everybody
                                                                                                      void eat()
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      System.out.println("Eating...");
                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                      // The make different sounds. They will provide their own implementation.
                                                                                                      abstract void sound();
                                                                                                      }

                                                                                                      class dog extends animals
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      void sound()
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      System.out.println("Woof Woof");
                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                      }

                                                                                                      class cat extends animals
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      void sound()
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      System.out.println("Meoww");
                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                      }


                                                                                                      Following is an implementation of interface in Java:



                                                                                                      interface Shape
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      void display();
                                                                                                      double area();
                                                                                                      }

                                                                                                      class Rectangle implements Shape
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      int length, width;
                                                                                                      Rectangle(int length, int width)
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      this.length = length;
                                                                                                      this.width = width;
                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                      @Override
                                                                                                      public void display()
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      System.out.println("****n* *n* *n****");
                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                      @Override
                                                                                                      public double area()
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      return (double)(length*width);
                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                      }

                                                                                                      class Circle implements Shape
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      double pi = 3.14;
                                                                                                      int radius;
                                                                                                      Circle(int radius)
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      this.radius = radius;
                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                      @Override
                                                                                                      public void display()
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      System.out.println("O"); // :P
                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                      @Override
                                                                                                      public double area()
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      return (double)((pi*radius*radius)/2);
                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                      }


                                                                                                      Some Important Key points in a nutshell:




                                                                                                      1. The variables declared in Java interface are by default final. Abstract classes can have non-final variables.


                                                                                                      2. The variables declared in Java interface are by default static. Abstract classes can have non-static variables.


                                                                                                      3. Members of a Java interface are public by default. A Java abstract class can have the usual flavors of class members like private, protected, etc..







                                                                                                      share|improve this answer















                                                                                                      If you have some common methods that can be used by multiple classes go for abstract classes.
                                                                                                      Else if you want the classes to follow some definite blueprint go for interfaces.



                                                                                                      Following examples demonstrate this.



                                                                                                      Abstract class in Java:



                                                                                                      abstract class animals
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      // They all love to eat. So let's implement them for everybody
                                                                                                      void eat()
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      System.out.println("Eating...");
                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                      // The make different sounds. They will provide their own implementation.
                                                                                                      abstract void sound();
                                                                                                      }

                                                                                                      class dog extends animals
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      void sound()
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      System.out.println("Woof Woof");
                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                      }

                                                                                                      class cat extends animals
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      void sound()
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      System.out.println("Meoww");
                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                      }


                                                                                                      Following is an implementation of interface in Java:



                                                                                                      interface Shape
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      void display();
                                                                                                      double area();
                                                                                                      }

                                                                                                      class Rectangle implements Shape
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      int length, width;
                                                                                                      Rectangle(int length, int width)
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      this.length = length;
                                                                                                      this.width = width;
                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                      @Override
                                                                                                      public void display()
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      System.out.println("****n* *n* *n****");
                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                      @Override
                                                                                                      public double area()
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      return (double)(length*width);
                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                      }

                                                                                                      class Circle implements Shape
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      double pi = 3.14;
                                                                                                      int radius;
                                                                                                      Circle(int radius)
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      this.radius = radius;
                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                      @Override
                                                                                                      public void display()
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      System.out.println("O"); // :P
                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                      @Override
                                                                                                      public double area()
                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                      return (double)((pi*radius*radius)/2);
                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                      }


                                                                                                      Some Important Key points in a nutshell:




                                                                                                      1. The variables declared in Java interface are by default final. Abstract classes can have non-final variables.


                                                                                                      2. The variables declared in Java interface are by default static. Abstract classes can have non-static variables.


                                                                                                      3. Members of a Java interface are public by default. A Java abstract class can have the usual flavors of class members like private, protected, etc..








                                                                                                      share|improve this answer














                                                                                                      share|improve this answer



                                                                                                      share|improve this answer








                                                                                                      edited Nov 29 '18 at 18:17

























                                                                                                      answered Oct 3 '17 at 6:25









                                                                                                      Pransh TiwariPransh Tiwari

                                                                                                      1,0311119




                                                                                                      1,0311119























                                                                                                          4














                                                                                                          Not really the answer to the original question, but once you have the answer to the difference between them, you will enter the when-to-use-each dilemma:
                                                                                                          When to use interfaces or abstract classes? When to use both?



                                                                                                          I've limited knowledge of OOP, but seeing interfaces as an equivalent of an adjective in grammar has worked for me until now (correct me if this method is bogus!). For example, interface names are like attributes or capabilities you can give to a class, and a class can have many of them: ISerializable, ICountable, IList, ICacheable, IHappy, ...






                                                                                                          share|improve this answer






























                                                                                                            4














                                                                                                            Not really the answer to the original question, but once you have the answer to the difference between them, you will enter the when-to-use-each dilemma:
                                                                                                            When to use interfaces or abstract classes? When to use both?



                                                                                                            I've limited knowledge of OOP, but seeing interfaces as an equivalent of an adjective in grammar has worked for me until now (correct me if this method is bogus!). For example, interface names are like attributes or capabilities you can give to a class, and a class can have many of them: ISerializable, ICountable, IList, ICacheable, IHappy, ...






                                                                                                            share|improve this answer




























                                                                                                              4












                                                                                                              4








                                                                                                              4







                                                                                                              Not really the answer to the original question, but once you have the answer to the difference between them, you will enter the when-to-use-each dilemma:
                                                                                                              When to use interfaces or abstract classes? When to use both?



                                                                                                              I've limited knowledge of OOP, but seeing interfaces as an equivalent of an adjective in grammar has worked for me until now (correct me if this method is bogus!). For example, interface names are like attributes or capabilities you can give to a class, and a class can have many of them: ISerializable, ICountable, IList, ICacheable, IHappy, ...






                                                                                                              share|improve this answer















                                                                                                              Not really the answer to the original question, but once you have the answer to the difference between them, you will enter the when-to-use-each dilemma:
                                                                                                              When to use interfaces or abstract classes? When to use both?



                                                                                                              I've limited knowledge of OOP, but seeing interfaces as an equivalent of an adjective in grammar has worked for me until now (correct me if this method is bogus!). For example, interface names are like attributes or capabilities you can give to a class, and a class can have many of them: ISerializable, ICountable, IList, ICacheable, IHappy, ...







                                                                                                              share|improve this answer














                                                                                                              share|improve this answer



                                                                                                              share|improve this answer








                                                                                                              edited May 23 '17 at 12:02









                                                                                                              Community

                                                                                                              11




                                                                                                              11










                                                                                                              answered Dec 16 '09 at 8:48









                                                                                                              azkotokiazkotoki

                                                                                                              2,04711925




                                                                                                              2,04711925























                                                                                                                  3














                                                                                                                  Inheritance is used for two purposes:




                                                                                                                  • To allow an object to regard parent-type data members and method implementations as its own.


                                                                                                                  • To allow a reference to an objects of one type to be used by code which expects a reference to supertype object.



                                                                                                                  In languages/frameworks which support generalized multiple inheritance, there is often little need to classify a type as either being an "interface" or an "abstract class". Popular languages and frameworks, however, will allow a type to regard one other type's data members or method implementations as its own even though they allow a type to be substitutable for an arbitrary number of other types.



                                                                                                                  Abstract classes may have data members and method implementations, but can only be inherited by classes which don't inherit from any other classes. Interfaces put almost no restrictions on the types which implement them, but cannot include any data members or method implementations.



                                                                                                                  There are times when it's useful for types to be substitutable for many different things; there are other times when it's useful for objects to regard parent-type data members and method implementations as their own. Making a distinction between interfaces and abstract classes allows each of those abilities to be used in cases where it is most relevant.






                                                                                                                  share|improve this answer




























                                                                                                                    3














                                                                                                                    Inheritance is used for two purposes:




                                                                                                                    • To allow an object to regard parent-type data members and method implementations as its own.


                                                                                                                    • To allow a reference to an objects of one type to be used by code which expects a reference to supertype object.



                                                                                                                    In languages/frameworks which support generalized multiple inheritance, there is often little need to classify a type as either being an "interface" or an "abstract class". Popular languages and frameworks, however, will allow a type to regard one other type's data members or method implementations as its own even though they allow a type to be substitutable for an arbitrary number of other types.



                                                                                                                    Abstract classes may have data members and method implementations, but can only be inherited by classes which don't inherit from any other classes. Interfaces put almost no restrictions on the types which implement them, but cannot include any data members or method implementations.



                                                                                                                    There are times when it's useful for types to be substitutable for many different things; there are other times when it's useful for objects to regard parent-type data members and method implementations as their own. Making a distinction between interfaces and abstract classes allows each of those abilities to be used in cases where it is most relevant.






                                                                                                                    share|improve this answer


























                                                                                                                      3












                                                                                                                      3








                                                                                                                      3







                                                                                                                      Inheritance is used for two purposes:




                                                                                                                      • To allow an object to regard parent-type data members and method implementations as its own.


                                                                                                                      • To allow a reference to an objects of one type to be used by code which expects a reference to supertype object.



                                                                                                                      In languages/frameworks which support generalized multiple inheritance, there is often little need to classify a type as either being an "interface" or an "abstract class". Popular languages and frameworks, however, will allow a type to regard one other type's data members or method implementations as its own even though they allow a type to be substitutable for an arbitrary number of other types.



                                                                                                                      Abstract classes may have data members and method implementations, but can only be inherited by classes which don't inherit from any other classes. Interfaces put almost no restrictions on the types which implement them, but cannot include any data members or method implementations.



                                                                                                                      There are times when it's useful for types to be substitutable for many different things; there are other times when it's useful for objects to regard parent-type data members and method implementations as their own. Making a distinction between interfaces and abstract classes allows each of those abilities to be used in cases where it is most relevant.






                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer













                                                                                                                      Inheritance is used for two purposes:




                                                                                                                      • To allow an object to regard parent-type data members and method implementations as its own.


                                                                                                                      • To allow a reference to an objects of one type to be used by code which expects a reference to supertype object.



                                                                                                                      In languages/frameworks which support generalized multiple inheritance, there is often little need to classify a type as either being an "interface" or an "abstract class". Popular languages and frameworks, however, will allow a type to regard one other type's data members or method implementations as its own even though they allow a type to be substitutable for an arbitrary number of other types.



                                                                                                                      Abstract classes may have data members and method implementations, but can only be inherited by classes which don't inherit from any other classes. Interfaces put almost no restrictions on the types which implement them, but cannot include any data members or method implementations.



                                                                                                                      There are times when it's useful for types to be substitutable for many different things; there are other times when it's useful for objects to regard parent-type data members and method implementations as their own. Making a distinction between interfaces and abstract classes allows each of those abilities to be used in cases where it is most relevant.







                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer












                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer



                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer










                                                                                                                      answered Sep 3 '13 at 16:09









                                                                                                                      supercatsupercat

                                                                                                                      56.8k2117151




                                                                                                                      56.8k2117151























                                                                                                                          3














                                                                                                                          Key Points:




                                                                                                                          • Abstract class can have property, Data fields ,Methods (complete /
                                                                                                                            incomplete) both.

                                                                                                                          • If method or Properties define in abstract keyword that must override in derived class.(its work as a tightly coupled
                                                                                                                            functionality)

                                                                                                                          • If define abstract keyword for method or properties in abstract class you can not define body of method and get/set value for
                                                                                                                            properties and that must override in derived class.

                                                                                                                          • Abstract class does not support multiple inheritance.

                                                                                                                          • Abstract class contains Constructors.

                                                                                                                          • An abstract class can contain access modifiers for the subs, functions, properties.

                                                                                                                          • Only Complete Member of abstract class can be Static.

                                                                                                                          • An interface can inherit from another interface only and cannot inherit from an abstract class, where as an abstract class can inherit from another abstract class or another interface.


                                                                                                                          Advantage:




                                                                                                                          • It is a kind of contract that forces all the subclasses to carry on the same hierarchies or standards.

                                                                                                                          • If various implementations are of the same kind and use common behavior or status then abstract class is better to use.

                                                                                                                          • If we add a new method to an abstract class then we have the option of providing default implementation and therefore all the existing code might work properly.

                                                                                                                          • Its allow fast execution than interface.(interface Requires more time to find the actual method in the corresponding classes.)

                                                                                                                          • It can use for tight and loosely coupling.


                                                                                                                          find details here...
                                                                                                                          http://pradeepatkari.wordpress.com/2014/11/20/interface-and-abstract-class-in-c-oops/






                                                                                                                          share|improve this answer






























                                                                                                                            3














                                                                                                                            Key Points:




                                                                                                                            • Abstract class can have property, Data fields ,Methods (complete /
                                                                                                                              incomplete) both.

                                                                                                                            • If method or Properties define in abstract keyword that must override in derived class.(its work as a tightly coupled
                                                                                                                              functionality)

                                                                                                                            • If define abstract keyword for method or properties in abstract class you can not define body of method and get/set value for
                                                                                                                              properties and that must override in derived class.

                                                                                                                            • Abstract class does not support multiple inheritance.

                                                                                                                            • Abstract class contains Constructors.

                                                                                                                            • An abstract class can contain access modifiers for the subs, functions, properties.

                                                                                                                            • Only Complete Member of abstract class can be Static.

                                                                                                                            • An interface can inherit from another interface only and cannot inherit from an abstract class, where as an abstract class can inherit from another abstract class or another interface.


                                                                                                                            Advantage:




                                                                                                                            • It is a kind of contract that forces all the subclasses to carry on the same hierarchies or standards.

                                                                                                                            • If various implementations are of the same kind and use common behavior or status then abstract class is better to use.

                                                                                                                            • If we add a new method to an abstract class then we have the option of providing default implementation and therefore all the existing code might work properly.

                                                                                                                            • Its allow fast execution than interface.(interface Requires more time to find the actual method in the corresponding classes.)

                                                                                                                            • It can use for tight and loosely coupling.


                                                                                                                            find details here...
                                                                                                                            http://pradeepatkari.wordpress.com/2014/11/20/interface-and-abstract-class-in-c-oops/






                                                                                                                            share|improve this answer




























                                                                                                                              3












                                                                                                                              3








                                                                                                                              3







                                                                                                                              Key Points:




                                                                                                                              • Abstract class can have property, Data fields ,Methods (complete /
                                                                                                                                incomplete) both.

                                                                                                                              • If method or Properties define in abstract keyword that must override in derived class.(its work as a tightly coupled
                                                                                                                                functionality)

                                                                                                                              • If define abstract keyword for method or properties in abstract class you can not define body of method and get/set value for
                                                                                                                                properties and that must override in derived class.

                                                                                                                              • Abstract class does not support multiple inheritance.

                                                                                                                              • Abstract class contains Constructors.

                                                                                                                              • An abstract class can contain access modifiers for the subs, functions, properties.

                                                                                                                              • Only Complete Member of abstract class can be Static.

                                                                                                                              • An interface can inherit from another interface only and cannot inherit from an abstract class, where as an abstract class can inherit from another abstract class or another interface.


                                                                                                                              Advantage:




                                                                                                                              • It is a kind of contract that forces all the subclasses to carry on the same hierarchies or standards.

                                                                                                                              • If various implementations are of the same kind and use common behavior or status then abstract class is better to use.

                                                                                                                              • If we add a new method to an abstract class then we have the option of providing default implementation and therefore all the existing code might work properly.

                                                                                                                              • Its allow fast execution than interface.(interface Requires more time to find the actual method in the corresponding classes.)

                                                                                                                              • It can use for tight and loosely coupling.


                                                                                                                              find details here...
                                                                                                                              http://pradeepatkari.wordpress.com/2014/11/20/interface-and-abstract-class-in-c-oops/






                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer















                                                                                                                              Key Points:




                                                                                                                              • Abstract class can have property, Data fields ,Methods (complete /
                                                                                                                                incomplete) both.

                                                                                                                              • If method or Properties define in abstract keyword that must override in derived class.(its work as a tightly coupled
                                                                                                                                functionality)

                                                                                                                              • If define abstract keyword for method or properties in abstract class you can not define body of method and get/set value for
                                                                                                                                properties and that must override in derived class.

                                                                                                                              • Abstract class does not support multiple inheritance.

                                                                                                                              • Abstract class contains Constructors.

                                                                                                                              • An abstract class can contain access modifiers for the subs, functions, properties.

                                                                                                                              • Only Complete Member of abstract class can be Static.

                                                                                                                              • An interface can inherit from another interface only and cannot inherit from an abstract class, where as an abstract class can inherit from another abstract class or another interface.


                                                                                                                              Advantage:




                                                                                                                              • It is a kind of contract that forces all the subclasses to carry on the same hierarchies or standards.

                                                                                                                              • If various implementations are of the same kind and use common behavior or status then abstract class is better to use.

                                                                                                                              • If we add a new method to an abstract class then we have the option of providing default implementation and therefore all the existing code might work properly.

                                                                                                                              • Its allow fast execution than interface.(interface Requires more time to find the actual method in the corresponding classes.)

                                                                                                                              • It can use for tight and loosely coupling.


                                                                                                                              find details here...
                                                                                                                              http://pradeepatkari.wordpress.com/2014/11/20/interface-and-abstract-class-in-c-oops/







                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer














                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer



                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer








                                                                                                                              edited Dec 5 '14 at 10:00

























                                                                                                                              answered Nov 20 '14 at 7:55









                                                                                                                              Pradeep atkariPradeep atkari

                                                                                                                              3051414




                                                                                                                              3051414























                                                                                                                                  3














                                                                                                                                  The shortest way to sum it up is that an interface is:




                                                                                                                                  1. Fully abstract, apart from default and static methods; while it has definitions (method signatures + implementations) for default and static methods, it only has declarations (method signatures) for other methods.

                                                                                                                                  2. Subject to laxer rules than classes (a class can implement multiple interfaces, and an interface can inherit from multiple interfaces). All variables are implicitly constant, whether specified as public static final or not. All members are implicitly public, whether specified as such or not.

                                                                                                                                  3. Generally used as a guarantee that the implementing class will have the specified features and/or be compatible with any other class which implements the same interface.


                                                                                                                                  Meanwhile, an abstract class is:




                                                                                                                                  1. Anywhere from fully abstract to fully implemented, with a tendency to have one or more abstract methods. Can contain both declarations and definitions, with declarations marked as abstract.

                                                                                                                                  2. A full-fledged class, and subject to the rules that govern other classes (can only inherit from one class), on the condition that it cannot be instantiated (because there's no guarantee that it's fully implemented). Can have non-constant member variables. Can implement member access control, restricting members as protected, private, or private package (unspecified).

                                                                                                                                  3. Generally used either to provide as much of the implementation as can be shared by multiple subclasses, or to provide as much of the implementation as the programmer is able to supply.


                                                                                                                                  Or, if we want to boil it all down to a single sentence: An interface is what the implementing class has, but an abstract class is what the subclass is.






                                                                                                                                  share|improve this answer




























                                                                                                                                    3














                                                                                                                                    The shortest way to sum it up is that an interface is:




                                                                                                                                    1. Fully abstract, apart from default and static methods; while it has definitions (method signatures + implementations) for default and static methods, it only has declarations (method signatures) for other methods.

                                                                                                                                    2. Subject to laxer rules than classes (a class can implement multiple interfaces, and an interface can inherit from multiple interfaces). All variables are implicitly constant, whether specified as public static final or not. All members are implicitly public, whether specified as such or not.

                                                                                                                                    3. Generally used as a guarantee that the implementing class will have the specified features and/or be compatible with any other class which implements the same interface.


                                                                                                                                    Meanwhile, an abstract class is:




                                                                                                                                    1. Anywhere from fully abstract to fully implemented, with a tendency to have one or more abstract methods. Can contain both declarations and definitions, with declarations marked as abstract.

                                                                                                                                    2. A full-fledged class, and subject to the rules that govern other classes (can only inherit from one class), on the condition that it cannot be instantiated (because there's no guarantee that it's fully implemented). Can have non-constant member variables. Can implement member access control, restricting members as protected, private, or private package (unspecified).

                                                                                                                                    3. Generally used either to provide as much of the implementation as can be shared by multiple subclasses, or to provide as much of the implementation as the programmer is able to supply.


                                                                                                                                    Or, if we want to boil it all down to a single sentence: An interface is what the implementing class has, but an abstract class is what the subclass is.






                                                                                                                                    share|improve this answer


























                                                                                                                                      3












                                                                                                                                      3








                                                                                                                                      3







                                                                                                                                      The shortest way to sum it up is that an interface is:




                                                                                                                                      1. Fully abstract, apart from default and static methods; while it has definitions (method signatures + implementations) for default and static methods, it only has declarations (method signatures) for other methods.

                                                                                                                                      2. Subject to laxer rules than classes (a class can implement multiple interfaces, and an interface can inherit from multiple interfaces). All variables are implicitly constant, whether specified as public static final or not. All members are implicitly public, whether specified as such or not.

                                                                                                                                      3. Generally used as a guarantee that the implementing class will have the specified features and/or be compatible with any other class which implements the same interface.


                                                                                                                                      Meanwhile, an abstract class is:




                                                                                                                                      1. Anywhere from fully abstract to fully implemented, with a tendency to have one or more abstract methods. Can contain both declarations and definitions, with declarations marked as abstract.

                                                                                                                                      2. A full-fledged class, and subject to the rules that govern other classes (can only inherit from one class), on the condition that it cannot be instantiated (because there's no guarantee that it's fully implemented). Can have non-constant member variables. Can implement member access control, restricting members as protected, private, or private package (unspecified).

                                                                                                                                      3. Generally used either to provide as much of the implementation as can be shared by multiple subclasses, or to provide as much of the implementation as the programmer is able to supply.


                                                                                                                                      Or, if we want to boil it all down to a single sentence: An interface is what the implementing class has, but an abstract class is what the subclass is.






                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer













                                                                                                                                      The shortest way to sum it up is that an interface is:




                                                                                                                                      1. Fully abstract, apart from default and static methods; while it has definitions (method signatures + implementations) for default and static methods, it only has declarations (method signatures) for other methods.

                                                                                                                                      2. Subject to laxer rules than classes (a class can implement multiple interfaces, and an interface can inherit from multiple interfaces). All variables are implicitly constant, whether specified as public static final or not. All members are implicitly public, whether specified as such or not.

                                                                                                                                      3. Generally used as a guarantee that the implementing class will have the specified features and/or be compatible with any other class which implements the same interface.


                                                                                                                                      Meanwhile, an abstract class is:




                                                                                                                                      1. Anywhere from fully abstract to fully implemented, with a tendency to have one or more abstract methods. Can contain both declarations and definitions, with declarations marked as abstract.

                                                                                                                                      2. A full-fledged class, and subject to the rules that govern other classes (can only inherit from one class), on the condition that it cannot be instantiated (because there's no guarantee that it's fully implemented). Can have non-constant member variables. Can implement member access control, restricting members as protected, private, or private package (unspecified).

                                                                                                                                      3. Generally used either to provide as much of the implementation as can be shared by multiple subclasses, or to provide as much of the implementation as the programmer is able to supply.


                                                                                                                                      Or, if we want to boil it all down to a single sentence: An interface is what the implementing class has, but an abstract class is what the subclass is.







                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer












                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer



                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer










                                                                                                                                      answered Jan 28 '16 at 21:58









                                                                                                                                      Justin TimeJustin Time

                                                                                                                                      3,0271429




                                                                                                                                      3,0271429























                                                                                                                                          3














                                                                                                                                          Many junior developers make the mistake of thinking of interfaces, abstract and concrete classes as slight variations of the same thing, and choose one of them purely on technical grounds: Do I need multiple inheritance? Do I need some place to put common methods? Do I need to bother with something other than just a concrete class? This is wrong, and hidden in these questions is the main problem: "I". When you write code for yourself, by yourself, you rarely think of other present or future developers working on or with your code.



                                                                                                                                          Interfaces and abstract classes, although apparently similar from a technical point of view, have completely different meanings and purposes.



                                                                                                                                          Summary




                                                                                                                                          1. An interface defines a contract that some implementation will fulfill for you.


                                                                                                                                          2. An abstract class provides a default behavior that your implementation can reuse.



                                                                                                                                          Alternative summary




                                                                                                                                          1. An interface is for defining public APIs

                                                                                                                                          2. An abstract class is for internal use, and for defining SPIs


                                                                                                                                          On the importance of hiding implementation details



                                                                                                                                          A concrete class does the actual work, in a very specific way. For example, an ArrayList uses a contiguous area of memory to store a list of objects in a compact manner which offers fast random access, iteration, and in-place changes, but is terrible at insertions, deletions, and occasionally even additions; meanwhile, a LinkedList uses double-linked nodes to store a list of objects, which instead offers fast iteration, in-place changes, and insertion/deletion/addition, but is terrible at random access. These two types of lists are optimized for different use cases, and it matters a lot how you're going to use them. When you're trying to squeeze performance out of a list that you're heavily interacting with, and when picking the type of list is up to you, you should carefully pick which one you're instantiating.



                                                                                                                                          On the other hand, high level users of a list don't really care how it is actually implemented, and they should be insulated from these details. Let's imagine that Java didn't expose the List interface, but only had a concrete List class that's actually what LinkedList is right now. All Java developers would have tailored their code to fit the implementation details: avoid random access, add a cache to speed up access, or just reimplement ArrayList on their own, although it would be incompatible with all the other code that actually works with List only. That would be terrible... But now imagine that the Java masters actually realize that a linked list is terrible for most actual use cases, and decided to switch over to an array list for their only List class available. This would affect the performance of every Java program in the world, and people wouldn't be happy about it. And the main culprit is that implementation details were available, and the developers assumed that those details are a permanent contract that they can rely on. This is why it's important to hide implementation details, and only define an abstract contract. This is the purpose of an interface: define what kind of input a method accepts, and what kind of output is expected, without exposing all the guts that would tempt programmers to tweak their code to fit the internal details that might change with any future update.



                                                                                                                                          An abstract class is in the middle between interfaces and concrete classes. It is supposed to help implementations share common or boring code. For example, AbstractCollection provides basic implementations for isEmpty based on size is 0, contains as iterate and compare, addAll as repeated add, and so on. This lets implementations focus on the crucial parts that differentiate between them: how to actually store and retrieve data.



                                                                                                                                          APIs versus SPIs



                                                                                                                                          Interfaces are low-cohesion gateways between different parts of code. They allow libraries to exist and evolve without breaking every library user when something changes internally. It's called Application Programming Interface, not Application Programming Classes. On a smaller scale, they also allow multiple developers to collaborate successfully on large scale projects, by separating different modules through well documented interfaces.



                                                                                                                                          Abstract classes are high-cohesion helpers to be used when implementing an interface, assuming some level of implementation details. Alternatively, abstract classes are used for defining SPIs, Service Provider Interfaces.



                                                                                                                                          The difference between an API and an SPI is subtle, but important: for an API, the focus is on who uses it, and for an SPI the focus is on who implements it.



                                                                                                                                          Adding methods to an API is easy, all existing users of the API will still compile. Adding methods to an SPI is hard, since every service provider (concrete implementation) will have to implement the new methods. If interfaces are used to define an SPI, a provider will have to release a new version whenever the SPI contract changes. If abstract classes are used instead, new methods could either be defined in terms of existing abstract methods, or as empty throw not implemented exception stubs, which will at least allow an older version of a service implementation to still compile and run.



                                                                                                                                          A note on Java 8 and default methods



                                                                                                                                          Although Java 8 introduced default methods for interfaces, which makes the line between interfaces and abstract classes even blurrier, this wasn't so that implementations can reuse code, but to make it easier to change interfaces that serve both as an API and as an SPI (or are wrongly used for defining SPIs instead of abstract classes).



                                                                                                                                          Which one to use?




                                                                                                                                          1. Is the thing supposed to be publicly used by other parts of the code, or by other external code? Add an interface to it to hide the implementation details from the public abstract contract, which is the general behavior of the thing.

                                                                                                                                          2. Is the thing something that's supposed to have multiple implementations with a lot of code in common? Make both an interface and an abstract, incomplete implementation.

                                                                                                                                          3. Is there ever going to be only one implementation, and nobody else will use it? Just make it a concrete class.


                                                                                                                                            1. "ever" is long time, you could play it safe and still add an interface on top of it.




                                                                                                                                          A corollary: the other way around is often wrongly done: when using a thing, always try to use the most generic class/interface that you actually need. In other words, don't declare your variables as ArrayList theList = new ArrayList(), unless you actually have a very strong dependency on it being an array list, and no other type of list would cut it for you. Use List theList = new ArrayList instead, or even Collection theCollection = new ArrayList if the fact that it's a list, and not any other type of collection doesn't actually matter.






                                                                                                                                          share|improve this answer




























                                                                                                                                            3














                                                                                                                                            Many junior developers make the mistake of thinking of interfaces, abstract and concrete classes as slight variations of the same thing, and choose one of them purely on technical grounds: Do I need multiple inheritance? Do I need some place to put common methods? Do I need to bother with something other than just a concrete class? This is wrong, and hidden in these questions is the main problem: "I". When you write code for yourself, by yourself, you rarely think of other present or future developers working on or with your code.



                                                                                                                                            Interfaces and abstract classes, although apparently similar from a technical point of view, have completely different meanings and purposes.



                                                                                                                                            Summary




                                                                                                                                            1. An interface defines a contract that some implementation will fulfill for you.


                                                                                                                                            2. An abstract class provides a default behavior that your implementation can reuse.



                                                                                                                                            Alternative summary




                                                                                                                                            1. An interface is for defining public APIs

                                                                                                                                            2. An abstract class is for internal use, and for defining SPIs


                                                                                                                                            On the importance of hiding implementation details



                                                                                                                                            A concrete class does the actual work, in a very specific way. For example, an ArrayList uses a contiguous area of memory to store a list of objects in a compact manner which offers fast random access, iteration, and in-place changes, but is terrible at insertions, deletions, and occasionally even additions; meanwhile, a LinkedList uses double-linked nodes to store a list of objects, which instead offers fast iteration, in-place changes, and insertion/deletion/addition, but is terrible at random access. These two types of lists are optimized for different use cases, and it matters a lot how you're going to use them. When you're trying to squeeze performance out of a list that you're heavily interacting with, and when picking the type of list is up to you, you should carefully pick which one you're instantiating.



                                                                                                                                            On the other hand, high level users of a list don't really care how it is actually implemented, and they should be insulated from these details. Let's imagine that Java didn't expose the List interface, but only had a concrete List class that's actually what LinkedList is right now. All Java developers would have tailored their code to fit the implementation details: avoid random access, add a cache to speed up access, or just reimplement ArrayList on their own, although it would be incompatible with all the other code that actually works with List only. That would be terrible... But now imagine that the Java masters actually realize that a linked list is terrible for most actual use cases, and decided to switch over to an array list for their only List class available. This would affect the performance of every Java program in the world, and people wouldn't be happy about it. And the main culprit is that implementation details were available, and the developers assumed that those details are a permanent contract that they can rely on. This is why it's important to hide implementation details, and only define an abstract contract. This is the purpose of an interface: define what kind of input a method accepts, and what kind of output is expected, without exposing all the guts that would tempt programmers to tweak their code to fit the internal details that might change with any future update.



                                                                                                                                            An abstract class is in the middle between interfaces and concrete classes. It is supposed to help implementations share common or boring code. For example, AbstractCollection provides basic implementations for isEmpty based on size is 0, contains as iterate and compare, addAll as repeated add, and so on. This lets implementations focus on the crucial parts that differentiate between them: how to actually store and retrieve data.



                                                                                                                                            APIs versus SPIs



                                                                                                                                            Interfaces are low-cohesion gateways between different parts of code. They allow libraries to exist and evolve without breaking every library user when something changes internally. It's called Application Programming Interface, not Application Programming Classes. On a smaller scale, they also allow multiple developers to collaborate successfully on large scale projects, by separating different modules through well documented interfaces.



                                                                                                                                            Abstract classes are high-cohesion helpers to be used when implementing an interface, assuming some level of implementation details. Alternatively, abstract classes are used for defining SPIs, Service Provider Interfaces.



                                                                                                                                            The difference between an API and an SPI is subtle, but important: for an API, the focus is on who uses it, and for an SPI the focus is on who implements it.



                                                                                                                                            Adding methods to an API is easy, all existing users of the API will still compile. Adding methods to an SPI is hard, since every service provider (concrete implementation) will have to implement the new methods. If interfaces are used to define an SPI, a provider will have to release a new version whenever the SPI contract changes. If abstract classes are used instead, new methods could either be defined in terms of existing abstract methods, or as empty throw not implemented exception stubs, which will at least allow an older version of a service implementation to still compile and run.



                                                                                                                                            A note on Java 8 and default methods



                                                                                                                                            Although Java 8 introduced default methods for interfaces, which makes the line between interfaces and abstract classes even blurrier, this wasn't so that implementations can reuse code, but to make it easier to change interfaces that serve both as an API and as an SPI (or are wrongly used for defining SPIs instead of abstract classes).



                                                                                                                                            Which one to use?




                                                                                                                                            1. Is the thing supposed to be publicly used by other parts of the code, or by other external code? Add an interface to it to hide the implementation details from the public abstract contract, which is the general behavior of the thing.

                                                                                                                                            2. Is the thing something that's supposed to have multiple implementations with a lot of code in common? Make both an interface and an abstract, incomplete implementation.

                                                                                                                                            3. Is there ever going to be only one implementation, and nobody else will use it? Just make it a concrete class.


                                                                                                                                              1. "ever" is long time, you could play it safe and still add an interface on top of it.




                                                                                                                                            A corollary: the other way around is often wrongly done: when using a thing, always try to use the most generic class/interface that you actually need. In other words, don't declare your variables as ArrayList theList = new ArrayList(), unless you actually have a very strong dependency on it being an array list, and no other type of list would cut it for you. Use List theList = new ArrayList instead, or even Collection theCollection = new ArrayList if the fact that it's a list, and not any other type of collection doesn't actually matter.






                                                                                                                                            share|improve this answer


























                                                                                                                                              3












                                                                                                                                              3








                                                                                                                                              3







                                                                                                                                              Many junior developers make the mistake of thinking of interfaces, abstract and concrete classes as slight variations of the same thing, and choose one of them purely on technical grounds: Do I need multiple inheritance? Do I need some place to put common methods? Do I need to bother with something other than just a concrete class? This is wrong, and hidden in these questions is the main problem: "I". When you write code for yourself, by yourself, you rarely think of other present or future developers working on or with your code.



                                                                                                                                              Interfaces and abstract classes, although apparently similar from a technical point of view, have completely different meanings and purposes.



                                                                                                                                              Summary




                                                                                                                                              1. An interface defines a contract that some implementation will fulfill for you.


                                                                                                                                              2. An abstract class provides a default behavior that your implementation can reuse.



                                                                                                                                              Alternative summary




                                                                                                                                              1. An interface is for defining public APIs

                                                                                                                                              2. An abstract class is for internal use, and for defining SPIs


                                                                                                                                              On the importance of hiding implementation details



                                                                                                                                              A concrete class does the actual work, in a very specific way. For example, an ArrayList uses a contiguous area of memory to store a list of objects in a compact manner which offers fast random access, iteration, and in-place changes, but is terrible at insertions, deletions, and occasionally even additions; meanwhile, a LinkedList uses double-linked nodes to store a list of objects, which instead offers fast iteration, in-place changes, and insertion/deletion/addition, but is terrible at random access. These two types of lists are optimized for different use cases, and it matters a lot how you're going to use them. When you're trying to squeeze performance out of a list that you're heavily interacting with, and when picking the type of list is up to you, you should carefully pick which one you're instantiating.



                                                                                                                                              On the other hand, high level users of a list don't really care how it is actually implemented, and they should be insulated from these details. Let's imagine that Java didn't expose the List interface, but only had a concrete List class that's actually what LinkedList is right now. All Java developers would have tailored their code to fit the implementation details: avoid random access, add a cache to speed up access, or just reimplement ArrayList on their own, although it would be incompatible with all the other code that actually works with List only. That would be terrible... But now imagine that the Java masters actually realize that a linked list is terrible for most actual use cases, and decided to switch over to an array list for their only List class available. This would affect the performance of every Java program in the world, and people wouldn't be happy about it. And the main culprit is that implementation details were available, and the developers assumed that those details are a permanent contract that they can rely on. This is why it's important to hide implementation details, and only define an abstract contract. This is the purpose of an interface: define what kind of input a method accepts, and what kind of output is expected, without exposing all the guts that would tempt programmers to tweak their code to fit the internal details that might change with any future update.



                                                                                                                                              An abstract class is in the middle between interfaces and concrete classes. It is supposed to help implementations share common or boring code. For example, AbstractCollection provides basic implementations for isEmpty based on size is 0, contains as iterate and compare, addAll as repeated add, and so on. This lets implementations focus on the crucial parts that differentiate between them: how to actually store and retrieve data.



                                                                                                                                              APIs versus SPIs



                                                                                                                                              Interfaces are low-cohesion gateways between different parts of code. They allow libraries to exist and evolve without breaking every library user when something changes internally. It's called Application Programming Interface, not Application Programming Classes. On a smaller scale, they also allow multiple developers to collaborate successfully on large scale projects, by separating different modules through well documented interfaces.



                                                                                                                                              Abstract classes are high-cohesion helpers to be used when implementing an interface, assuming some level of implementation details. Alternatively, abstract classes are used for defining SPIs, Service Provider Interfaces.



                                                                                                                                              The difference between an API and an SPI is subtle, but important: for an API, the focus is on who uses it, and for an SPI the focus is on who implements it.



                                                                                                                                              Adding methods to an API is easy, all existing users of the API will still compile. Adding methods to an SPI is hard, since every service provider (concrete implementation) will have to implement the new methods. If interfaces are used to define an SPI, a provider will have to release a new version whenever the SPI contract changes. If abstract classes are used instead, new methods could either be defined in terms of existing abstract methods, or as empty throw not implemented exception stubs, which will at least allow an older version of a service implementation to still compile and run.



                                                                                                                                              A note on Java 8 and default methods



                                                                                                                                              Although Java 8 introduced default methods for interfaces, which makes the line between interfaces and abstract classes even blurrier, this wasn't so that implementations can reuse code, but to make it easier to change interfaces that serve both as an API and as an SPI (or are wrongly used for defining SPIs instead of abstract classes).



                                                                                                                                              Which one to use?




                                                                                                                                              1. Is the thing supposed to be publicly used by other parts of the code, or by other external code? Add an interface to it to hide the implementation details from the public abstract contract, which is the general behavior of the thing.

                                                                                                                                              2. Is the thing something that's supposed to have multiple implementations with a lot of code in common? Make both an interface and an abstract, incomplete implementation.

                                                                                                                                              3. Is there ever going to be only one implementation, and nobody else will use it? Just make it a concrete class.


                                                                                                                                                1. "ever" is long time, you could play it safe and still add an interface on top of it.




                                                                                                                                              A corollary: the other way around is often wrongly done: when using a thing, always try to use the most generic class/interface that you actually need. In other words, don't declare your variables as ArrayList theList = new ArrayList(), unless you actually have a very strong dependency on it being an array list, and no other type of list would cut it for you. Use List theList = new ArrayList instead, or even Collection theCollection = new ArrayList if the fact that it's a list, and not any other type of collection doesn't actually matter.






                                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer













                                                                                                                                              Many junior developers make the mistake of thinking of interfaces, abstract and concrete classes as slight variations of the same thing, and choose one of them purely on technical grounds: Do I need multiple inheritance? Do I need some place to put common methods? Do I need to bother with something other than just a concrete class? This is wrong, and hidden in these questions is the main problem: "I". When you write code for yourself, by yourself, you rarely think of other present or future developers working on or with your code.



                                                                                                                                              Interfaces and abstract classes, although apparently similar from a technical point of view, have completely different meanings and purposes.



                                                                                                                                              Summary




                                                                                                                                              1. An interface defines a contract that some implementation will fulfill for you.


                                                                                                                                              2. An abstract class provides a default behavior that your implementation can reuse.



                                                                                                                                              Alternative summary




                                                                                                                                              1. An interface is for defining public APIs

                                                                                                                                              2. An abstract class is for internal use, and for defining SPIs


                                                                                                                                              On the importance of hiding implementation details



                                                                                                                                              A concrete class does the actual work, in a very specific way. For example, an ArrayList uses a contiguous area of memory to store a list of objects in a compact manner which offers fast random access, iteration, and in-place changes, but is terrible at insertions, deletions, and occasionally even additions; meanwhile, a LinkedList uses double-linked nodes to store a list of objects, which instead offers fast iteration, in-place changes, and insertion/deletion/addition, but is terrible at random access. These two types of lists are optimized for different use cases, and it matters a lot how you're going to use them. When you're trying to squeeze performance out of a list that you're heavily interacting with, and when picking the type of list is up to you, you should carefully pick which one you're instantiating.



                                                                                                                                              On the other hand, high level users of a list don't really care how it is actually implemented, and they should be insulated from these details. Let's imagine that Java didn't expose the List interface, but only had a concrete List class that's actually what LinkedList is right now. All Java developers would have tailored their code to fit the implementation details: avoid random access, add a cache to speed up access, or just reimplement ArrayList on their own, although it would be incompatible with all the other code that actually works with List only. That would be terrible... But now imagine that the Java masters actually realize that a linked list is terrible for most actual use cases, and decided to switch over to an array list for their only List class available. This would affect the performance of every Java program in the world, and people wouldn't be happy about it. And the main culprit is that implementation details were available, and the developers assumed that those details are a permanent contract that they can rely on. This is why it's important to hide implementation details, and only define an abstract contract. This is the purpose of an interface: define what kind of input a method accepts, and what kind of output is expected, without exposing all the guts that would tempt programmers to tweak their code to fit the internal details that might change with any future update.



                                                                                                                                              An abstract class is in the middle between interfaces and concrete classes. It is supposed to help implementations share common or boring code. For example, AbstractCollection provides basic implementations for isEmpty based on size is 0, contains as iterate and compare, addAll as repeated add, and so on. This lets implementations focus on the crucial parts that differentiate between them: how to actually store and retrieve data.



                                                                                                                                              APIs versus SPIs



                                                                                                                                              Interfaces are low-cohesion gateways between different parts of code. They allow libraries to exist and evolve without breaking every library user when something changes internally. It's called Application Programming Interface, not Application Programming Classes. On a smaller scale, they also allow multiple developers to collaborate successfully on large scale projects, by separating different modules through well documented interfaces.



                                                                                                                                              Abstract classes are high-cohesion helpers to be used when implementing an interface, assuming some level of implementation details. Alternatively, abstract classes are used for defining SPIs, Service Provider Interfaces.



                                                                                                                                              The difference between an API and an SPI is subtle, but important: for an API, the focus is on who uses it, and for an SPI the focus is on who implements it.



                                                                                                                                              Adding methods to an API is easy, all existing users of the API will still compile. Adding methods to an SPI is hard, since every service provider (concrete implementation) will have to implement the new methods. If interfaces are used to define an SPI, a provider will have to release a new version whenever the SPI contract changes. If abstract classes are used instead, new methods could either be defined in terms of existing abstract methods, or as empty throw not implemented exception stubs, which will at least allow an older version of a service implementation to still compile and run.



                                                                                                                                              A note on Java 8 and default methods



                                                                                                                                              Although Java 8 introduced default methods for interfaces, which makes the line between interfaces and abstract classes even blurrier, this wasn't so that implementations can reuse code, but to make it easier to change interfaces that serve both as an API and as an SPI (or are wrongly used for defining SPIs instead of abstract classes).



                                                                                                                                              Which one to use?




                                                                                                                                              1. Is the thing supposed to be publicly used by other parts of the code, or by other external code? Add an interface to it to hide the implementation details from the public abstract contract, which is the general behavior of the thing.

                                                                                                                                              2. Is the thing something that's supposed to have multiple implementations with a lot of code in common? Make both an interface and an abstract, incomplete implementation.

                                                                                                                                              3. Is there ever going to be only one implementation, and nobody else will use it? Just make it a concrete class.


                                                                                                                                                1. "ever" is long time, you could play it safe and still add an interface on top of it.




                                                                                                                                              A corollary: the other way around is often wrongly done: when using a thing, always try to use the most generic class/interface that you actually need. In other words, don't declare your variables as ArrayList theList = new ArrayList(), unless you actually have a very strong dependency on it being an array list, and no other type of list would cut it for you. Use List theList = new ArrayList instead, or even Collection theCollection = new ArrayList if the fact that it's a list, and not any other type of collection doesn't actually matter.







                                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer












                                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer



                                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer










                                                                                                                                              answered Jun 19 '16 at 9:02









                                                                                                                                              Sergiu DumitriuSergiu Dumitriu

                                                                                                                                              9,46332557




                                                                                                                                              9,46332557























                                                                                                                                                  3














                                                                                                                                                  By definition, interfaces cannot have an implementation for any methods, and member variables cannot be initialized.



                                                                                                                                                  However, abstract classes can have methods implementated and member variables initialized.



                                                                                                                                                  Use abstract classes when you expect changes in your contract, i.e., say in future you might need to add a new method.



                                                                                                                                                  In this situation, if you decide to use an interface, when the interface is changed to include interface, your application will break when you dumped the new interface dll.



                                                                                                                                                  To read in detail, visit difference between abstract class and a interface






                                                                                                                                                  share|improve this answer






























                                                                                                                                                    3














                                                                                                                                                    By definition, interfaces cannot have an implementation for any methods, and member variables cannot be initialized.



                                                                                                                                                    However, abstract classes can have methods implementated and member variables initialized.



                                                                                                                                                    Use abstract classes when you expect changes in your contract, i.e., say in future you might need to add a new method.



                                                                                                                                                    In this situation, if you decide to use an interface, when the interface is changed to include interface, your application will break when you dumped the new interface dll.



                                                                                                                                                    To read in detail, visit difference between abstract class and a interface






                                                                                                                                                    share|improve this answer




























                                                                                                                                                      3












                                                                                                                                                      3








                                                                                                                                                      3







                                                                                                                                                      By definition, interfaces cannot have an implementation for any methods, and member variables cannot be initialized.



                                                                                                                                                      However, abstract classes can have methods implementated and member variables initialized.



                                                                                                                                                      Use abstract classes when you expect changes in your contract, i.e., say in future you might need to add a new method.



                                                                                                                                                      In this situation, if you decide to use an interface, when the interface is changed to include interface, your application will break when you dumped the new interface dll.



                                                                                                                                                      To read in detail, visit difference between abstract class and a interface






                                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer















                                                                                                                                                      By definition, interfaces cannot have an implementation for any methods, and member variables cannot be initialized.



                                                                                                                                                      However, abstract classes can have methods implementated and member variables initialized.



                                                                                                                                                      Use abstract classes when you expect changes in your contract, i.e., say in future you might need to add a new method.



                                                                                                                                                      In this situation, if you decide to use an interface, when the interface is changed to include interface, your application will break when you dumped the new interface dll.



                                                                                                                                                      To read in detail, visit difference between abstract class and a interface







                                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer














                                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer



                                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer








                                                                                                                                                      edited Jun 30 '16 at 16:27









                                                                                                                                                      ragingasiancoder

                                                                                                                                                      608416




                                                                                                                                                      608416










                                                                                                                                                      answered Jan 19 '15 at 8:59









                                                                                                                                                      RanganathaRanganatha

                                                                                                                                                      719620




                                                                                                                                                      719620























                                                                                                                                                          3














                                                                                                                                                          I'd like to add one more difference which makes sense.
                                                                                                                                                          For example, you have a framework with thousands of lines of code. Now if you want to add a new feature throughout the code using a method enhanceUI(), then it's better to add that method in abstract class rather in interface. Because, if you add this method in an interface then you should implement it in all the implemented class but it's not the case if you add the method in abstract class.






                                                                                                                                                          share|improve this answer




























                                                                                                                                                            3














                                                                                                                                                            I'd like to add one more difference which makes sense.
                                                                                                                                                            For example, you have a framework with thousands of lines of code. Now if you want to add a new feature throughout the code using a method enhanceUI(), then it's better to add that method in abstract class rather in interface. Because, if you add this method in an interface then you should implement it in all the implemented class but it's not the case if you add the method in abstract class.






                                                                                                                                                            share|improve this answer


























                                                                                                                                                              3












                                                                                                                                                              3








                                                                                                                                                              3







                                                                                                                                                              I'd like to add one more difference which makes sense.
                                                                                                                                                              For example, you have a framework with thousands of lines of code. Now if you want to add a new feature throughout the code using a method enhanceUI(), then it's better to add that method in abstract class rather in interface. Because, if you add this method in an interface then you should implement it in all the implemented class but it's not the case if you add the method in abstract class.






                                                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer













                                                                                                                                                              I'd like to add one more difference which makes sense.
                                                                                                                                                              For example, you have a framework with thousands of lines of code. Now if you want to add a new feature throughout the code using a method enhanceUI(), then it's better to add that method in abstract class rather in interface. Because, if you add this method in an interface then you should implement it in all the implemented class but it's not the case if you add the method in abstract class.







                                                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer












                                                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer



                                                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer










                                                                                                                                                              answered Dec 15 '16 at 17:47









                                                                                                                                                              ToothlessToothless

                                                                                                                                                              125312




                                                                                                                                                              125312























                                                                                                                                                                  3














                                                                                                                                                                  Differences between abstract class and interface on behalf of real implementation.



                                                                                                                                                                  Interface: It is a keyword and it is used to define the template or blue print of an object and it forces all the sub classes would follow the same prototype,as for as implementation, all the sub classes are free to implement the functionality as per it's requirement.



                                                                                                                                                                  Some of other use cases where we should use interface.



                                                                                                                                                                  Communication between two external objects(Third party integration in our application) done through Interface here Interface works as Contract.



                                                                                                                                                                  Abstract Class: Abstract,it is a keyword and when we use this keyword before any class then it becomes abstract class.It is mainly used when we need to define the template as well as some default functionality of an object that is followed by all the sub classes and this way it removes the redundant code and one more use cases where we can use abstract class, such as we want no other classes can directly instantiate an object of the class, only derived classes can use the functionality.



                                                                                                                                                                  Example of Abstract Class:



                                                                                                                                                                   public abstract class DesireCar
                                                                                                                                                                  {

                                                                                                                                                                  //It is an abstract method that defines the prototype.
                                                                                                                                                                  public abstract void Color();

                                                                                                                                                                  // It is a default implementation of a Wheel method as all the desire cars have the same no. of wheels.
                                                                                                                                                                  // and hence no need to define this in all the sub classes in this way it saves the code duplicasy

                                                                                                                                                                  public void Wheel() {

                                                                                                                                                                  Console.WriteLine("Car has four wheel");
                                                                                                                                                                  }
                                                                                                                                                                  }


                                                                                                                                                                  **Here is the sub classes:**

                                                                                                                                                                  public class DesireCar1 : DesireCar
                                                                                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                                                                                  public override void Color()
                                                                                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                                                                                  Console.WriteLine("This is a red color Desire car");
                                                                                                                                                                  }
                                                                                                                                                                  }

                                                                                                                                                                  public class DesireCar2 : DesireCar
                                                                                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                                                                                  public override void Color()
                                                                                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                                                                                  Console.WriteLine("This is a red white Desire car");
                                                                                                                                                                  }
                                                                                                                                                                  }


                                                                                                                                                                  Example Of Interface:



                                                                                                                                                                    public interface IShape
                                                                                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                                                                                  // Defines the prototype(template)
                                                                                                                                                                  void Draw();
                                                                                                                                                                  }


                                                                                                                                                                  // All the sub classes follow the same template but implementation can be different.

                                                                                                                                                                  public class Circle : IShape
                                                                                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                                                                                  public void Draw()
                                                                                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                                                                                  Console.WriteLine("This is a Circle");
                                                                                                                                                                  }
                                                                                                                                                                  }

                                                                                                                                                                  public class Rectangle : IShape
                                                                                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                                                                                  public void Draw()
                                                                                                                                                                  {
                                                                                                                                                                  Console.WriteLine("This is a Rectangle");
                                                                                                                                                                  }
                                                                                                                                                                  }





                                                                                                                                                                  share|improve this answer






























                                                                                                                                                                    3














                                                                                                                                                                    Differences between abstract class and interface on behalf of real implementation.



                                                                                                                                                                    Interface: It is a keyword and it is used to define the template or blue print of an object and it forces all the sub classes would follow the same prototype,as for as implementation, all the sub classes are free to implement the functionality as per it's requirement.



                                                                                                                                                                    Some of other use cases where we should use interface.



                                                                                                                                                                    Communication between two external objects(Third party integration in our application) done through Interface here Interface works as Contract.



                                                                                                                                                                    Abstract Class: Abstract,it is a keyword and when we use this keyword before any class then it becomes abstract class.It is mainly used when we need to define the template as well as some default functionality of an object that is followed by all the sub classes and this way it removes the redundant code and one more use cases where we can use abstract class, such as we want no other classes can directly instantiate an object of the class, only derived classes can use the functionality.



                                                                                                                                                                    Example of Abstract Class:



                                                                                                                                                                     public abstract class DesireCar
                                                                                                                                                                    {

                                                                                                                                                                    //It is an abstract method that defines the prototype.
                                                                                                                                                                    public abstract void Color();

                                                                                                                                                                    // It is a default implementation of a Wheel method as all the desire cars have the same no. of wheels.
                                                                                                                                                                    // and hence no need to define this in all the sub classes in this way it saves the code duplicasy

                                                                                                                                                                    public void Wheel() {

                                                                                                                                                                    Console.WriteLine("Car has four wheel");
                                                                                                                                                                    }
                                                                                                                                                                    }


                                                                                                                                                                    **Here is the sub classes:**

                                                                                                                                                                    public class DesireCar1 : DesireCar
                                                                                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                                                                                    public override void Color()
                                                                                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                                                                                    Console.WriteLine("This is a red color Desire car");
                                                                                                                                                                    }
                                                                                                                                                                    }

                                                                                                                                                                    public class DesireCar2 : DesireCar
                                                                                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                                                                                    public override void Color()
                                                                                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                                                                                    Console.WriteLine("This is a red white Desire car");
                                                                                                                                                                    }
                                                                                                                                                                    }


                                                                                                                                                                    Example Of Interface:



                                                                                                                                                                      public interface IShape
                                                                                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                                                                                    // Defines the prototype(template)
                                                                                                                                                                    void Draw();
                                                                                                                                                                    }


                                                                                                                                                                    // All the sub classes follow the same template but implementation can be different.

                                                                                                                                                                    public class Circle : IShape
                                                                                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                                                                                    public void Draw()
                                                                                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                                                                                    Console.WriteLine("This is a Circle");
                                                                                                                                                                    }
                                                                                                                                                                    }

                                                                                                                                                                    public class Rectangle : IShape
                                                                                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                                                                                    public void Draw()
                                                                                                                                                                    {
                                                                                                                                                                    Console.WriteLine("This is a Rectangle");
                                                                                                                                                                    }
                                                                                                                                                                    }





                                                                                                                                                                    share|improve this answer




























                                                                                                                                                                      3












                                                                                                                                                                      3








                                                                                                                                                                      3







                                                                                                                                                                      Differences between abstract class and interface on behalf of real implementation.



                                                                                                                                                                      Interface: It is a keyword and it is used to define the template or blue print of an object and it forces all the sub classes would follow the same prototype,as for as implementation, all the sub classes are free to implement the functionality as per it's requirement.



                                                                                                                                                                      Some of other use cases where we should use interface.



                                                                                                                                                                      Communication between two external objects(Third party integration in our application) done through Interface here Interface works as Contract.



                                                                                                                                                                      Abstract Class: Abstract,it is a keyword and when we use this keyword before any class then it becomes abstract class.It is mainly used when we need to define the template as well as some default functionality of an object that is followed by all the sub classes and this way it removes the redundant code and one more use cases where we can use abstract class, such as we want no other classes can directly instantiate an object of the class, only derived classes can use the functionality.



                                                                                                                                                                      Example of Abstract Class:



                                                                                                                                                                       public abstract class DesireCar
                                                                                                                                                                      {

                                                                                                                                                                      //It is an abstract method that defines the prototype.
                                                                                                                                                                      public abstract void Color();

                                                                                                                                                                      // It is a default implementation of a Wheel method as all the desire cars have the same no. of wheels.
                                                                                                                                                                      // and hence no need to define this in all the sub classes in this way it saves the code duplicasy

                                                                                                                                                                      public void Wheel() {

                                                                                                                                                                      Console.WriteLine("Car has four wheel");
                                                                                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                                                                                      }


                                                                                                                                                                      **Here is the sub classes:**

                                                                                                                                                                      public class DesireCar1 : DesireCar
                                                                                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                                                                                      public override void Color()
                                                                                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                                                                                      Console.WriteLine("This is a red color Desire car");
                                                                                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                                                                                      }

                                                                                                                                                                      public class DesireCar2 : DesireCar
                                                                                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                                                                                      public override void Color()
                                                                                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                                                                                      Console.WriteLine("This is a red white Desire car");
                                                                                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                                                                                      }


                                                                                                                                                                      Example Of Interface:



                                                                                                                                                                        public interface IShape
                                                                                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                                                                                      // Defines the prototype(template)
                                                                                                                                                                      void Draw();
                                                                                                                                                                      }


                                                                                                                                                                      // All the sub classes follow the same template but implementation can be different.

                                                                                                                                                                      public class Circle : IShape
                                                                                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                                                                                      public void Draw()
                                                                                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                                                                                      Console.WriteLine("This is a Circle");
                                                                                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                                                                                      }

                                                                                                                                                                      public class Rectangle : IShape
                                                                                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                                                                                      public void Draw()
                                                                                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                                                                                      Console.WriteLine("This is a Rectangle");
                                                                                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                                                                                      }





                                                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer















                                                                                                                                                                      Differences between abstract class and interface on behalf of real implementation.



                                                                                                                                                                      Interface: It is a keyword and it is used to define the template or blue print of an object and it forces all the sub classes would follow the same prototype,as for as implementation, all the sub classes are free to implement the functionality as per it's requirement.



                                                                                                                                                                      Some of other use cases where we should use interface.



                                                                                                                                                                      Communication between two external objects(Third party integration in our application) done through Interface here Interface works as Contract.



                                                                                                                                                                      Abstract Class: Abstract,it is a keyword and when we use this keyword before any class then it becomes abstract class.It is mainly used when we need to define the template as well as some default functionality of an object that is followed by all the sub classes and this way it removes the redundant code and one more use cases where we can use abstract class, such as we want no other classes can directly instantiate an object of the class, only derived classes can use the functionality.



                                                                                                                                                                      Example of Abstract Class:



                                                                                                                                                                       public abstract class DesireCar
                                                                                                                                                                      {

                                                                                                                                                                      //It is an abstract method that defines the prototype.
                                                                                                                                                                      public abstract void Color();

                                                                                                                                                                      // It is a default implementation of a Wheel method as all the desire cars have the same no. of wheels.
                                                                                                                                                                      // and hence no need to define this in all the sub classes in this way it saves the code duplicasy

                                                                                                                                                                      public void Wheel() {

                                                                                                                                                                      Console.WriteLine("Car has four wheel");
                                                                                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                                                                                      }


                                                                                                                                                                      **Here is the sub classes:**

                                                                                                                                                                      public class DesireCar1 : DesireCar
                                                                                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                                                                                      public override void Color()
                                                                                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                                                                                      Console.WriteLine("This is a red color Desire car");
                                                                                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                                                                                      }

                                                                                                                                                                      public class DesireCar2 : DesireCar
                                                                                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                                                                                      public override void Color()
                                                                                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                                                                                      Console.WriteLine("This is a red white Desire car");
                                                                                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                                                                                      }


                                                                                                                                                                      Example Of Interface:



                                                                                                                                                                        public interface IShape
                                                                                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                                                                                      // Defines the prototype(template)
                                                                                                                                                                      void Draw();
                                                                                                                                                                      }


                                                                                                                                                                      // All the sub classes follow the same template but implementation can be different.

                                                                                                                                                                      public class Circle : IShape
                                                                                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                                                                                      public void Draw()
                                                                                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                                                                                      Console.WriteLine("This is a Circle");
                                                                                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                                                                                      }

                                                                                                                                                                      public class Rectangle : IShape
                                                                                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                                                                                      public void Draw()
                                                                                                                                                                      {
                                                                                                                                                                      Console.WriteLine("This is a Rectangle");
                                                                                                                                                                      }
                                                                                                                                                                      }






                                                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer














                                                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer



                                                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer








                                                                                                                                                                      edited Aug 18 '17 at 5:56

























                                                                                                                                                                      answered Aug 16 '17 at 8:43









                                                                                                                                                                      Sheo Dayal SinghSheo Dayal Singh

                                                                                                                                                                      60365




                                                                                                                                                                      60365























                                                                                                                                                                          3














                                                                                                                                                                          You can find clear difference between interface and abstract class.



                                                                                                                                                                          Interface




                                                                                                                                                                          • Interface only contains abstract methods.

                                                                                                                                                                          • Force users to implement all methods when implements the interface.

                                                                                                                                                                          • Contains only final and static variables.

                                                                                                                                                                          • Declare using interface keyword.

                                                                                                                                                                          • All methods of an interface must be defined as public.

                                                                                                                                                                          • An interface can extend or a class can implement multiple other
                                                                                                                                                                            interfaces.


                                                                                                                                                                          Abstract class




                                                                                                                                                                          • Abstract class contains abstract and non-abstract methods.


                                                                                                                                                                          • Does not force users to implement all methods when inherited the
                                                                                                                                                                            abstract class.


                                                                                                                                                                          • Contains all kinds of variables including primitive and non-primitive


                                                                                                                                                                          • Declare using abstract keyword.


                                                                                                                                                                          • Methods and members of an abstract class can be defined with any
                                                                                                                                                                            visibility.


                                                                                                                                                                          • A child class can only extend a single class (abstract or concrete).







                                                                                                                                                                          share|improve this answer




























                                                                                                                                                                            3














                                                                                                                                                                            You can find clear difference between interface and abstract class.



                                                                                                                                                                            Interface




                                                                                                                                                                            • Interface only contains abstract methods.

                                                                                                                                                                            • Force users to implement all methods when implements the interface.

                                                                                                                                                                            • Contains only final and static variables.

                                                                                                                                                                            • Declare using interface keyword.

                                                                                                                                                                            • All methods of an interface must be defined as public.

                                                                                                                                                                            • An interface can extend or a class can implement multiple other
                                                                                                                                                                              interfaces.


                                                                                                                                                                            Abstract class




                                                                                                                                                                            • Abstract class contains abstract and non-abstract methods.


                                                                                                                                                                            • Does not force users to implement all methods when inherited the
                                                                                                                                                                              abstract class.


                                                                                                                                                                            • Contains all kinds of variables including primitive and non-primitive


                                                                                                                                                                            • Declare using abstract keyword.


                                                                                                                                                                            • Methods and members of an abstract class can be defined with any
                                                                                                                                                                              visibility.


                                                                                                                                                                            • A child class can only extend a single class (abstract or concrete).







                                                                                                                                                                            share|improve this answer


























                                                                                                                                                                              3












                                                                                                                                                                              3








                                                                                                                                                                              3







                                                                                                                                                                              You can find clear difference between interface and abstract class.



                                                                                                                                                                              Interface




                                                                                                                                                                              • Interface only contains abstract methods.

                                                                                                                                                                              • Force users to implement all methods when implements the interface.

                                                                                                                                                                              • Contains only final and static variables.

                                                                                                                                                                              • Declare using interface keyword.

                                                                                                                                                                              • All methods of an interface must be defined as public.

                                                                                                                                                                              • An interface can extend or a class can implement multiple other
                                                                                                                                                                                interfaces.


                                                                                                                                                                              Abstract class




                                                                                                                                                                              • Abstract class contains abstract and non-abstract methods.


                                                                                                                                                                              • Does not force users to implement all methods when inherited the
                                                                                                                                                                                abstract class.


                                                                                                                                                                              • Contains all kinds of variables including primitive and non-primitive


                                                                                                                                                                              • Declare using abstract keyword.


                                                                                                                                                                              • Methods and members of an abstract class can be defined with any
                                                                                                                                                                                visibility.


                                                                                                                                                                              • A child class can only extend a single class (abstract or concrete).







                                                                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer













                                                                                                                                                                              You can find clear difference between interface and abstract class.



                                                                                                                                                                              Interface




                                                                                                                                                                              • Interface only contains abstract methods.

                                                                                                                                                                              • Force users to implement all methods when implements the interface.

                                                                                                                                                                              • Contains only final and static variables.

                                                                                                                                                                              • Declare using interface keyword.

                                                                                                                                                                              • All methods of an interface must be defined as public.

                                                                                                                                                                              • An interface can extend or a class can implement multiple other
                                                                                                                                                                                interfaces.


                                                                                                                                                                              Abstract class




                                                                                                                                                                              • Abstract class contains abstract and non-abstract methods.


                                                                                                                                                                              • Does not force users to implement all methods when inherited the
                                                                                                                                                                                abstract class.


                                                                                                                                                                              • Contains all kinds of variables including primitive and non-primitive


                                                                                                                                                                              • Declare using abstract keyword.


                                                                                                                                                                              • Methods and members of an abstract class can be defined with any
                                                                                                                                                                                visibility.


                                                                                                                                                                              • A child class can only extend a single class (abstract or concrete).








                                                                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer












                                                                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer



                                                                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer










                                                                                                                                                                              answered Aug 24 '17 at 14:05









                                                                                                                                                                              Rahul ChauhanRahul Chauhan

                                                                                                                                                                              42559




                                                                                                                                                                              42559























                                                                                                                                                                                  2














                                                                                                                                                                                  An abstract class is a class whose object cannot be created or a class which cannot be instantiated.
                                                                                                                                                                                  An abstract method makes a class abstract.
                                                                                                                                                                                  An abstract class needs to be inherited in order to override the methods that are declared in the abstract class.
                                                                                                                                                                                  No restriction on access specifiers.
                                                                                                                                                                                  An abstract class can have constructor and other concrete(non abstarct methods ) methods in them but interface cannot have.



                                                                                                                                                                                  An interface is a blueprint/template of methods.(eg. A house on a paper is given(interface house) and different architects will use their ideas to build it(the classes of architects implementing the house interface) .
                                                                                                                                                                                  It is a collection of abstract methods , default methods , static methods , final variables and nested classes.
                                                                                                                                                                                  All members will be either final or public , protected and private access specifiers are not allowed.No object creation is allowed.
                                                                                                                                                                                  A class has to be made in order to use the implementing interface and also to override the abstract method declared in the interface. An interface is a good example of loose coupling(dynamic polymorphism/dynamic binding)
                                                                                                                                                                                  An interface implements polymorphism and abstraction.It tells what to do but how to do is defined by the implementing class.
                                                                                                                                                                                  For Eg. There's a car company and it wants that some features to be same for all the car it is manufacturing so for that the company would be making an interface vehicle which will have those features and different classes of car(like Maruti Suzkhi , Maruti 800) will override those features(functions).



                                                                                                                                                                                  Why interface when we already have abstract class?
                                                                                                                                                                                  Java supports only multilevel and hierarchal inheritance but with the help of interface we can implement multiple inheritance.






                                                                                                                                                                                  share|improve this answer






























                                                                                                                                                                                    2














                                                                                                                                                                                    An abstract class is a class whose object cannot be created or a class which cannot be instantiated.
                                                                                                                                                                                    An abstract method makes a class abstract.
                                                                                                                                                                                    An abstract class needs to be inherited in order to override the methods that are declared in the abstract class.
                                                                                                                                                                                    No restriction on access specifiers.
                                                                                                                                                                                    An abstract class can have constructor and other concrete(non abstarct methods ) methods in them but interface cannot have.



                                                                                                                                                                                    An interface is a blueprint/template of methods.(eg. A house on a paper is given(interface house) and different architects will use their ideas to build it(the classes of architects implementing the house interface) .
                                                                                                                                                                                    It is a collection of abstract methods , default methods , static methods , final variables and nested classes.
                                                                                                                                                                                    All members will be either final or public , protected and private access specifiers are not allowed.No object creation is allowed.
                                                                                                                                                                                    A class has to be made in order to use the implementing interface and also to override the abstract method declared in the interface. An interface is a good example of loose coupling(dynamic polymorphism/dynamic binding)
                                                                                                                                                                                    An interface implements polymorphism and abstraction.It tells what to do but how to do is defined by the implementing class.
                                                                                                                                                                                    For Eg. There's a car company and it wants that some features to be same for all the car it is manufacturing so for that the company would be making an interface vehicle which will have those features and different classes of car(like Maruti Suzkhi , Maruti 800) will override those features(functions).



                                                                                                                                                                                    Why interface when we already have abstract class?
                                                                                                                                                                                    Java supports only multilevel and hierarchal inheritance but with the help of interface we can implement multiple inheritance.






                                                                                                                                                                                    share|improve this answer




























                                                                                                                                                                                      2












                                                                                                                                                                                      2








                                                                                                                                                                                      2







                                                                                                                                                                                      An abstract class is a class whose object cannot be created or a class which cannot be instantiated.
                                                                                                                                                                                      An abstract method makes a class abstract.
                                                                                                                                                                                      An abstract class needs to be inherited in order to override the methods that are declared in the abstract class.
                                                                                                                                                                                      No restriction on access specifiers.
                                                                                                                                                                                      An abstract class can have constructor and other concrete(non abstarct methods ) methods in them but interface cannot have.



                                                                                                                                                                                      An interface is a blueprint/template of methods.(eg. A house on a paper is given(interface house) and different architects will use their ideas to build it(the classes of architects implementing the house interface) .
                                                                                                                                                                                      It is a collection of abstract methods , default methods , static methods , final variables and nested classes.
                                                                                                                                                                                      All members will be either final or public , protected and private access specifiers are not allowed.No object creation is allowed.
                                                                                                                                                                                      A class has to be made in order to use the implementing interface and also to override the abstract method declared in the interface. An interface is a good example of loose coupling(dynamic polymorphism/dynamic binding)
                                                                                                                                                                                      An interface implements polymorphism and abstraction.It tells what to do but how to do is defined by the implementing class.
                                                                                                                                                                                      For Eg. There's a car company and it wants that some features to be same for all the car it is manufacturing so for that the company would be making an interface vehicle which will have those features and different classes of car(like Maruti Suzkhi , Maruti 800) will override those features(functions).



                                                                                                                                                                                      Why interface when we already have abstract class?
                                                                                                                                                                                      Java supports only multilevel and hierarchal inheritance but with the help of interface we can implement multiple inheritance.






                                                                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer















                                                                                                                                                                                      An abstract class is a class whose object cannot be created or a class which cannot be instantiated.
                                                                                                                                                                                      An abstract method makes a class abstract.
                                                                                                                                                                                      An abstract class needs to be inherited in order to override the methods that are declared in the abstract class.
                                                                                                                                                                                      No restriction on access specifiers.
                                                                                                                                                                                      An abstract class can have constructor and other concrete(non abstarct methods ) methods in them but interface cannot have.



                                                                                                                                                                                      An interface is a blueprint/template of methods.(eg. A house on a paper is given(interface house) and different architects will use their ideas to build it(the classes of architects implementing the house interface) .
                                                                                                                                                                                      It is a collection of abstract methods , default methods , static methods , final variables and nested classes.
                                                                                                                                                                                      All members will be either final or public , protected and private access specifiers are not allowed.No object creation is allowed.
                                                                                                                                                                                      A class has to be made in order to use the implementing interface and also to override the abstract method declared in the interface. An interface is a good example of loose coupling(dynamic polymorphism/dynamic binding)
                                                                                                                                                                                      An interface implements polymorphism and abstraction.It tells what to do but how to do is defined by the implementing class.
                                                                                                                                                                                      For Eg. There's a car company and it wants that some features to be same for all the car it is manufacturing so for that the company would be making an interface vehicle which will have those features and different classes of car(like Maruti Suzkhi , Maruti 800) will override those features(functions).



                                                                                                                                                                                      Why interface when we already have abstract class?
                                                                                                                                                                                      Java supports only multilevel and hierarchal inheritance but with the help of interface we can implement multiple inheritance.







                                                                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer














                                                                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer



                                                                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer








                                                                                                                                                                                      edited Sep 20 '16 at 19:19

























                                                                                                                                                                                      answered Sep 20 '16 at 19:12









                                                                                                                                                                                      Tutu KumariTutu Kumari

                                                                                                                                                                                      12916




                                                                                                                                                                                      12916























                                                                                                                                                                                          2














                                                                                                                                                                                          To give a simple but clear answer, it helps to set the context : you use both when you do not want to provide full implementations.



                                                                                                                                                                                          The main difference then is an interface has no implementation at all (only methods without a body) while abstract classes can have members and methods with a body as well, i.e. can be partially implemented.






                                                                                                                                                                                          share|improve this answer
























                                                                                                                                                                                          • Since you answered it just now, your answer does not take into account the default keyword in Java 8 with which you can define concrete methods in interfaces as well.

                                                                                                                                                                                            – philantrovert
                                                                                                                                                                                            Jun 28 '17 at 11:19
















                                                                                                                                                                                          2














                                                                                                                                                                                          To give a simple but clear answer, it helps to set the context : you use both when you do not want to provide full implementations.



                                                                                                                                                                                          The main difference then is an interface has no implementation at all (only methods without a body) while abstract classes can have members and methods with a body as well, i.e. can be partially implemented.






                                                                                                                                                                                          share|improve this answer
























                                                                                                                                                                                          • Since you answered it just now, your answer does not take into account the default keyword in Java 8 with which you can define concrete methods in interfaces as well.

                                                                                                                                                                                            – philantrovert
                                                                                                                                                                                            Jun 28 '17 at 11:19














                                                                                                                                                                                          2












                                                                                                                                                                                          2








                                                                                                                                                                                          2







                                                                                                                                                                                          To give a simple but clear answer, it helps to set the context : you use both when you do not want to provide full implementations.



                                                                                                                                                                                          The main difference then is an interface has no implementation at all (only methods without a body) while abstract classes can have members and methods with a body as well, i.e. can be partially implemented.






                                                                                                                                                                                          share|improve this answer













                                                                                                                                                                                          To give a simple but clear answer, it helps to set the context : you use both when you do not want to provide full implementations.



                                                                                                                                                                                          The main difference then is an interface has no implementation at all (only methods without a body) while abstract classes can have members and methods with a body as well, i.e. can be partially implemented.







                                                                                                                                                                                          share|improve this answer












                                                                                                                                                                                          share|improve this answer



                                                                                                                                                                                          share|improve this answer










                                                                                                                                                                                          answered Jun 28 '17 at 10:49









                                                                                                                                                                                          user3775501user3775501

                                                                                                                                                                                          541211




                                                                                                                                                                                          541211













                                                                                                                                                                                          • Since you answered it just now, your answer does not take into account the default keyword in Java 8 with which you can define concrete methods in interfaces as well.

                                                                                                                                                                                            – philantrovert
                                                                                                                                                                                            Jun 28 '17 at 11:19



















                                                                                                                                                                                          • Since you answered it just now, your answer does not take into account the default keyword in Java 8 with which you can define concrete methods in interfaces as well.

                                                                                                                                                                                            – philantrovert
                                                                                                                                                                                            Jun 28 '17 at 11:19

















                                                                                                                                                                                          Since you answered it just now, your answer does not take into account the default keyword in Java 8 with which you can define concrete methods in interfaces as well.

                                                                                                                                                                                          – philantrovert
                                                                                                                                                                                          Jun 28 '17 at 11:19





                                                                                                                                                                                          Since you answered it just now, your answer does not take into account the default keyword in Java 8 with which you can define concrete methods in interfaces as well.

                                                                                                                                                                                          – philantrovert
                                                                                                                                                                                          Jun 28 '17 at 11:19











                                                                                                                                                                                          1














                                                                                                                                                                                          enter image description here



                                                                                                                                                                                          Here is a very basic understanding over interface vs abstract class.






                                                                                                                                                                                          share|improve this answer



















                                                                                                                                                                                          • 11





                                                                                                                                                                                            How does this explain the difference? Why couldn't Car/Plane/Boat extend an abstract Vehicle class?

                                                                                                                                                                                            – aioobe
                                                                                                                                                                                            Aug 30 '16 at 6:58






                                                                                                                                                                                          • 3





                                                                                                                                                                                            I don't understand, I even don't agree. It contradicts the answer with maximum votes

                                                                                                                                                                                            – Adib Aroui
                                                                                                                                                                                            Apr 22 '17 at 11:04








                                                                                                                                                                                          • 1





                                                                                                                                                                                            How can this answer get 6 upvotes?

                                                                                                                                                                                            – Pritam Banerjee
                                                                                                                                                                                            Sep 17 '17 at 6:58
















                                                                                                                                                                                          1














                                                                                                                                                                                          enter image description here



                                                                                                                                                                                          Here is a very basic understanding over interface vs abstract class.






                                                                                                                                                                                          share|improve this answer



















                                                                                                                                                                                          • 11





                                                                                                                                                                                            How does this explain the difference? Why couldn't Car/Plane/Boat extend an abstract Vehicle class?

                                                                                                                                                                                            – aioobe
                                                                                                                                                                                            Aug 30 '16 at 6:58






                                                                                                                                                                                          • 3





                                                                                                                                                                                            I don't understand, I even don't agree. It contradicts the answer with maximum votes

                                                                                                                                                                                            – Adib Aroui
                                                                                                                                                                                            Apr 22 '17 at 11:04








                                                                                                                                                                                          • 1





                                                                                                                                                                                            How can this answer get 6 upvotes?

                                                                                                                                                                                            – Pritam Banerjee
                                                                                                                                                                                            Sep 17 '17 at 6:58














                                                                                                                                                                                          1












                                                                                                                                                                                          1








                                                                                                                                                                                          1







                                                                                                                                                                                          enter image description here



                                                                                                                                                                                          Here is a very basic understanding over interface vs abstract class.






                                                                                                                                                                                          share|improve this answer













                                                                                                                                                                                          enter image description here



                                                                                                                                                                                          Here is a very basic understanding over interface vs abstract class.







                                                                                                                                                                                          share|improve this answer












                                                                                                                                                                                          share|improve this answer



                                                                                                                                                                                          share|improve this answer










                                                                                                                                                                                          answered Jan 22 '16 at 12:24









                                                                                                                                                                                          SantoshSantosh

                                                                                                                                                                                          295313




                                                                                                                                                                                          295313








                                                                                                                                                                                          • 11





                                                                                                                                                                                            How does this explain the difference? Why couldn't Car/Plane/Boat extend an abstract Vehicle class?

                                                                                                                                                                                            – aioobe
                                                                                                                                                                                            Aug 30 '16 at 6:58






                                                                                                                                                                                          • 3





                                                                                                                                                                                            I don't understand, I even don't agree. It contradicts the answer with maximum votes

                                                                                                                                                                                            – Adib Aroui
                                                                                                                                                                                            Apr 22 '17 at 11:04








                                                                                                                                                                                          • 1





                                                                                                                                                                                            How can this answer get 6 upvotes?

                                                                                                                                                                                            – Pritam Banerjee
                                                                                                                                                                                            Sep 17 '17 at 6:58














                                                                                                                                                                                          • 11





                                                                                                                                                                                            How does this explain the difference? Why couldn't Car/Plane/Boat extend an abstract Vehicle class?

                                                                                                                                                                                            – aioobe
                                                                                                                                                                                            Aug 30 '16 at 6:58






                                                                                                                                                                                          • 3





                                                                                                                                                                                            I don't understand, I even don't agree. It contradicts the answer with maximum votes

                                                                                                                                                                                            – Adib Aroui
                                                                                                                                                                                            Apr 22 '17 at 11:04








                                                                                                                                                                                          • 1





                                                                                                                                                                                            How can this answer get 6 upvotes?

                                                                                                                                                                                            – Pritam Banerjee
                                                                                                                                                                                            Sep 17 '17 at 6:58








                                                                                                                                                                                          11




                                                                                                                                                                                          11





                                                                                                                                                                                          How does this explain the difference? Why couldn't Car/Plane/Boat extend an abstract Vehicle class?

                                                                                                                                                                                          – aioobe
                                                                                                                                                                                          Aug 30 '16 at 6:58





                                                                                                                                                                                          How does this explain the difference? Why couldn't Car/Plane/Boat extend an abstract Vehicle class?

                                                                                                                                                                                          – aioobe
                                                                                                                                                                                          Aug 30 '16 at 6:58




                                                                                                                                                                                          3




                                                                                                                                                                                          3





                                                                                                                                                                                          I don't understand, I even don't agree. It contradicts the answer with maximum votes

                                                                                                                                                                                          – Adib Aroui
                                                                                                                                                                                          Apr 22 '17 at 11:04







                                                                                                                                                                                          I don't understand, I even don't agree. It contradicts the answer with maximum votes

                                                                                                                                                                                          – Adib Aroui
                                                                                                                                                                                          Apr 22 '17 at 11:04






                                                                                                                                                                                          1




                                                                                                                                                                                          1





                                                                                                                                                                                          How can this answer get 6 upvotes?

                                                                                                                                                                                          – Pritam Banerjee
                                                                                                                                                                                          Sep 17 '17 at 6:58





                                                                                                                                                                                          How can this answer get 6 upvotes?

                                                                                                                                                                                          – Pritam Banerjee
                                                                                                                                                                                          Sep 17 '17 at 6:58











                                                                                                                                                                                          1














                                                                                                                                                                                          In an interface all methods must be only definitions, not single one should be implemented.



                                                                                                                                                                                          But in an abstract class there must an abstract method with only definition, but other methods can be also in the abstract class with implementation...






                                                                                                                                                                                          share|improve this answer






























                                                                                                                                                                                            1














                                                                                                                                                                                            In an interface all methods must be only definitions, not single one should be implemented.



                                                                                                                                                                                            But in an abstract class there must an abstract method with only definition, but other methods can be also in the abstract class with implementation...






                                                                                                                                                                                            share|improve this answer




























                                                                                                                                                                                              1












                                                                                                                                                                                              1








                                                                                                                                                                                              1







                                                                                                                                                                                              In an interface all methods must be only definitions, not single one should be implemented.



                                                                                                                                                                                              But in an abstract class there must an abstract method with only definition, but other methods can be also in the abstract class with implementation...






                                                                                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer















                                                                                                                                                                                              In an interface all methods must be only definitions, not single one should be implemented.



                                                                                                                                                                                              But in an abstract class there must an abstract method with only definition, but other methods can be also in the abstract class with implementation...







                                                                                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer














                                                                                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer



                                                                                                                                                                                              share|improve this answer








                                                                                                                                                                                              edited Nov 20 '16 at 14:25









                                                                                                                                                                                              Peter Mortensen

                                                                                                                                                                                              13.6k1984111




                                                                                                                                                                                              13.6k1984111










                                                                                                                                                                                              answered Aug 25 '13 at 21:56









                                                                                                                                                                                              Shamim AhmedShamim Ahmed

                                                                                                                                                                                              71621527




                                                                                                                                                                                              71621527























                                                                                                                                                                                                  1














                                                                                                                                                                                                  usually Abstract class used for core of something but interface used for appending peripheral.



                                                                                                                                                                                                  when you want to create base type for vehicle you should use abstract class but if you want to add some functionality or property that is not part of base concept of vehicle you should use interface,for example you want to add "ToJSON()" function.



                                                                                                                                                                                                  interface has wide range of abstraction rather than abstract class.
                                                                                                                                                                                                  you can see this in passing arguments.look this example:



                                                                                                                                                                                                  enter image description here



                                                                                                                                                                                                  if you use vehicle as argument you just can use one of its derived type (bus or car-same category-just vehicle category).
                                                                                                                                                                                                  but when you use IMoveable interface as argument you have more choices.






                                                                                                                                                                                                  share|improve this answer






























                                                                                                                                                                                                    1














                                                                                                                                                                                                    usually Abstract class used for core of something but interface used for appending peripheral.



                                                                                                                                                                                                    when you want to create base type for vehicle you should use abstract class but if you want to add some functionality or property that is not part of base concept of vehicle you should use interface,for example you want to add "ToJSON()" function.



                                                                                                                                                                                                    interface has wide range of abstraction rather than abstract class.
                                                                                                                                                                                                    you can see this in passing arguments.look this example:



                                                                                                                                                                                                    enter image description here



                                                                                                                                                                                                    if you use vehicle as argument you just can use one of its derived type (bus or car-same category-just vehicle category).
                                                                                                                                                                                                    but when you use IMoveable interface as argument you have more choices.






                                                                                                                                                                                                    share|improve this answer




























                                                                                                                                                                                                      1












                                                                                                                                                                                                      1








                                                                                                                                                                                                      1







                                                                                                                                                                                                      usually Abstract class used for core of something but interface used for appending peripheral.



                                                                                                                                                                                                      when you want to create base type for vehicle you should use abstract class but if you want to add some functionality or property that is not part of base concept of vehicle you should use interface,for example you want to add "ToJSON()" function.



                                                                                                                                                                                                      interface has wide range of abstraction rather than abstract class.
                                                                                                                                                                                                      you can see this in passing arguments.look this example:



                                                                                                                                                                                                      enter image description here



                                                                                                                                                                                                      if you use vehicle as argument you just can use one of its derived type (bus or car-same category-just vehicle category).
                                                                                                                                                                                                      but when you use IMoveable interface as argument you have more choices.






                                                                                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer















                                                                                                                                                                                                      usually Abstract class used for core of something but interface used for appending peripheral.



                                                                                                                                                                                                      when you want to create base type for vehicle you should use abstract class but if you want to add some functionality or property that is not part of base concept of vehicle you should use interface,for example you want to add "ToJSON()" function.



                                                                                                                                                                                                      interface has wide range of abstraction rather than abstract class.
                                                                                                                                                                                                      you can see this in passing arguments.look this example:



                                                                                                                                                                                                      enter image description here



                                                                                                                                                                                                      if you use vehicle as argument you just can use one of its derived type (bus or car-same category-just vehicle category).
                                                                                                                                                                                                      but when you use IMoveable interface as argument you have more choices.







                                                                                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer














                                                                                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer



                                                                                                                                                                                                      share|improve this answer








                                                                                                                                                                                                      edited Oct 29 '18 at 7:11

























                                                                                                                                                                                                      answered Oct 29 '18 at 7:00









                                                                                                                                                                                                      MRMFMRMF

                                                                                                                                                                                                      357




                                                                                                                                                                                                      357






















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                                                                                                                                                                                                          protected by Stefano Borini Mar 27 '13 at 18:20



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