An abstract class is a class that cannot be instantiated. They are generally meant to be extended/subclasses and generally have "abstract methods" that must be implement by subclasses.
What is an abstract class?
The exact definition varies depending on the language, but generally an abstract class:
- Cannot be directly instantiated
- Is meant to be subclassed
- Can define abstract methods, which must be implemented in subclasses.
Abstract classes in different programming languages
Java
An abstract class is usually used as a base class for a class hierarchy, where subclasses need to define custom behavior for certain methods.
See:
- Abstract class in java
- How should I have explained the difference between an Interface and an Abstract class?
C++
Abstract classes (also called interfaces) are made by defining at least one pure virtual function. The subclasses are required to override the pure virtual functions.
See:
Tag usage
Use this for questions about how abstract classes are related to software engineering. Do not use this for general programming questions.
