Abstract classes and Constructors

Question

I am wiondering how can an Abstract class have a constructor?
Won't the constructor of the derived class
automatically invoke the constructor of Shape
by calling super()implicitly
That means that an object of type Shape has been created
Or have I overlooked a certain point?
abstract class Shape {
     public String color;
     public Shape() {
     public void setColor(String c) {
          color = c;
     public String getColor() {
          return color;
     abstract public double area();
public class Point extends Shape {
     static int x, y;
        // ?? Wont this constructor invoke the super class's constructor?
     public Point() {
          x = 0;
          y = 0;
     public double area() {
          return 0;
     public static void print() {
          System.out.println("point: " + x + "," + y);
     public static void main(String args[]) {
          Point p = new Point();
          p.print();
}

Answer 1

bhuru_luthria wrote:
I am wiondering how can an Abstract class have a constructor?
Won't the constructor of the derived class
automatically invoke the constructor of Shape
by calling super()implicitly If you don't explicitly invoke a superclass c'tor, super() will be called, but you can also explicitly invoke any non-private parent constructor from the child's constructor.
That means that an object of type Shape has been createdC'tors don't create objects. They initialize newly created objects to valid state.