Abstract/Concrete Superclasses and Interfaces

What would you would expect to happen if a class that implements an interface is an abstract superclass? What would you would expect to happen if a class that implements an interface is an concrete superclass? What would be the effect on subclasses of each?

What would you would expect to happen if a class that
implements an interface is an abstract superclass?Happen? I wouldn't expect anything to happen. (This is the english language right?)
What would you would expect to happen if a class
that implements an interface is an concrete
superclass? Happen? I wouldn't expect anything to happen.
What would be the effect on subclasses of
each?No effect. The subclass extends the parent - if it meets the contract for the parent it is done, if it doesn't then there is a problem. That is all the child does. The parent is responsible for what it does not the child.

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Abstract classes and Interfaces

Why would you use these? Why not make a concrete class and extend them? I see why JAVA doesn't use mutiple inheritance but I don't see how allowing interfaces correctes that, after all what happens if two interfaces implemented by one class have two fully defined methods with the same signature but differant outputs?
I tryed googleing this but just got articles on when to use Abstract over interface and interface over abstract, which should have helped some but it didn't.
Can someone explain or post a link for a good example.

Why would you use these? Why not make a concrete
class and extend them? Check out the JDBC interfac (java.sql package).
The core Java API defines what types and methods it wants to use for DB interactions. But because every DB and driver is so different, there's no concrete implementation that the core API could provide for those types. It's up to the vendors to provide all the "how"--all the concrete implementations of the methods.
interfaces correctes that, after all what happens if
two interfaces implemented by one class have two
fully defined methods with the same signature but
differant outputs?That rarely happens (it has never happened to me in about 8 years of Java programming) and if it does, you just have to find a different approach--you can't meet both contracts.

Abstract class and interface having same method

Hello,
Here is my problem. Suppose we have one abstarct class and one interface.Here is code-
//Abstarct class
abstract class X{
abstract void myMethod();
//Interface
public interface Y{
abstract void myMethod(){}
Now i have a class which extends both abstarct class X and interface Y.
If i call myMethod() from this class. Whose myMethod would be called.Will it be of abstract class or interface?
Many Thanks

Hello,
Here is my problem. Suppose we have one abstarct class
and one interface.Here is code-
//Abstarct class
abstract class X{
abstract void myMethod();
}OK, so far...
//Interface
public interface Y{
abstract void myMethod(){}
}An interface cannot have code (the {} part), so this won't work.
Lets pretend though, it read
//Interface
public interface Y{
abstract void myMethod();
However, the abstract class above can have code;
If you extended X and implemented Y (with no code in it), you would have to have a myMethod() implementation in your code. That's the one that would run.
Now, let's pretend the abstract class above did have code in it.
//Abstract class
abstract class X {
abstract void myMethod() { System.out.println("Hello"); }
Then, you wouldn't have to have a myMethod() implementation in your class which extends X and implements Y (it's defined in X). If you didn't have one, the method in X would run. If you defined your own myMethod() implementation in your class (which extends X and implements Y), then your own implementation would run.

Question about Classes, Abstract Classes and Interfaces.

I have been experimenting with Classes, Abstract Classes and Interfaces and wonder if anyone can explain this to me.
I was looking for a way to assign a value to a variable and then keep it fixed for the session and have devised this.
First I create an abstract class like this:
public abstract class DatabaseConnection {
private static String ServerName = null;
public static void setServerName(String serverName) {
          ServerName = serverName;
     public static String getServerName() {
          return ServerName;
}and then I created an interface
public interface DatabaseAccess {
     String servername = DatabaseConnection.getServerName();
}And finally the class itself with some test lines in it so I could see what was going on:
public class CreateDatabase extends DatabaseConnection implements DatabaseAccess {
     public static void main (String args[]){
          new CreateDatabase();
     public CreateDatabase(){
          setServerName("Server Name 1");
          System.out.println ("Before update ");
          System.out.println ("ServerName from Interface           = " + servername);
          System.out.println ("ServerName from Abstract Class = " + getServerName());
          System.out.println ("After update ");
          setServerName("Server Name 2");
          System.out.println ("ServerName from Interface           = " + servername);
          System.out.println ("ServerName from Abstract Class = " + getServerName());
          System.out.println ("==========================");
}The output I get from the above is:
Before update
ServerName from Interface           = Server Name 1
ServerName from Abstract Class = Server Name 1
After update
ServerName from Interface           = Server Name 1
ServerName from Abstract Class = Server Name 2
==========================I also tried this in another class which calls the above class to see if I get the same effect
public class CheckDatabaseAccess {
     public static void main (String args[]){
          new CreateDatabase();
          CreateDatabase.setServerName("Server 3");
          System.out.println("CreateDatabase "+CreateDatabase.servername);
          CreateDatabase.setServerName("Server 4");
          System.out.println("CreateDatabase "+CreateDatabase.servername);
          CreateDatabase.setServerName("Server 5");
          System.out.println("CreateDatabase "+CreateDatabase.servername);
}The output of which is this:
Before update
ServerName from Interface           = Server Name 1
ServerName from Abstract Class = Server Name 1
After update
ServerName from Interface           = Server Name 1
ServerName from Abstract Class = Server Name 2
==========================
CreateDatabase Server Name 1
CreateDatabase Server Name 1
CreateDatabase Server Name 1Can anyone explain why I appear to only be able to change or set the ServerName only the once?
Is this the correct way to do it? If it is it's exactly what I am looking for, a way to set the value of variable once in a session and then prevent it being changed.
Or is there a better way of doing this.
What I want to use this for is for example, storing the accesses to a database on a server. I won't know what server the database will be stored on nor what the database is called so I create an INI file which stores this information in encrypted format, which is set by the database administrator. It occurs to me I can use this method to then retrieve that data once and once only from the INI file and use that throughout the life of the session to access the database.
Any help appreciated
Regards
John

Not gonna read all of it, but this jumps out:
public abstract class DatabaseConnection {
private static String ServerName = null;
public interface DatabaseAccess {
     String servername = DatabaseConnection.getServerName();
}You have two completely separate variables (with two different names, for that matter, since you were inconsistent in your capitalization, but it wouldn't make a difference if they did have the same name with the same case). And the one in the interface is implicitly public, static, and final.
Anytime you refer to "servername" through a reference of type DatabaseAccess, it refers to the one declared in the interface.
Anytime you refer to "ServerName" inside the DatabaseConnection class, it refers to the one declared in that class.

What is the difference between Abstract class and Interface ?

Hi,
Could u plz tell me the difference between Abstract class and Interface?
Thanks in advance.
Gopi

Lots.
An abstract class can contain some method implementations, or indeed all the method implementations. It may contain methods with all the various access modifiers. It cannot be instantiated. A class may inherit from only a single abstract class.
An interface contains only public method stubs and constants. A class may implement multiple interfaces. An interface cannot (obviously) be instantiated.
Abstract classes are particularly useful when you need to provide a semi-complete implementation for reuse. Interfaces are used more like types.
Look at java.util.* for some good examples of the use of both.

Difference between abstract classes and interfaces

I actually wonder about what are the differences between abstract classes and interfaces may somebody give an example code about it?
and i have one more question how can i use interfaces like multiple inheritance ? i mean when i implement an interface like
class a extends b implements c,di have to use all c and d methods but what that methods means?
I mean as i know we cannot make implementations of methods in interfaces
but for example in runnable interface there is a method like run() and it has been defined somewhere because it knows what to do(i mean when it will run), i just write my code into that method .

Once you get past the starting point (I am referring to the OP here), there are a few salient differences:
You can only extend (or generalize) a single superclass; however, you can implement (or realize) multiple interfaces. As such, all things being equal, using an interface in lieu of an abstract class 'frees' your design. Later, if you want the implementor of an interface to inherit from another class, there is not issue.
Any abstract method specifies a contract. However, abstract classes allow you to also add common behavior to subclasses. This is an overused justification for abstract classes, IMO. You can achieve the same effect using delegation and still having interfaces.
Always program to interfaces wherever possible. This means that you define an interface and have an implementing class (usually at a minimum). Do not do this for all your classes, but rather the ones that make your system unique (the domain model or M in MVC architecture). This allows you to later change implementation with a minimal amount of refactoring. This is a core precept from the Group of Four and any number of decent programming books.Best of luck.
- Saish

Abstract class and interface????

hi all, i would like to know the difference between abstract class and interface....could anybody enlighten me on this....

Like the others have mentioned you can implement more than one interface, but only inherit from one abstract class. An abstract class can provide some implementation.
steve http:\\www.jamonapi.com

What's the difference between Abstract Class and Interface?

Dear all,
Can anyone give me some hints about this topic?
Thanks.
Leo

an abstract class may have some methods already implemented in the abstract class but an interface has no methods implemented
I think it's just that simple.
For your design needs, you just choose what you need : )
Cheers
Stephen

When to use abstract classes instead of interfaces with extension methods in C#?

"Abstract class" and "interface" are similar concepts, with interface being the more abstract of the two. One differentiating factor is that abstract classes provide method implementations for derived classes when needed. In C#, however,
this differentiating factor has been reduced by the recent introduction of extension methods, which enable implementations to be provided for interface methods. Another differentiating factor is that a class can inherit only one abstract class (i.e., there
is no multiple inheritance), but it can implement multiple interfaces. This makes interfaces less restrictive and more flexible. So, in C#, when should we use abstract classes
instead of interfaces with extension methods?
A notable example of the interface + extension method model is LINQ, where query functionality is provided for any type that implements IEnumerable via
a multitude of extension methods.

Hi
Well I believe Interfaces have more uses in software design. You could decouple your component implementing against interfaces so that
you have more flexibility on changing your code with less risk. Like Inversion of Control patterns where you can use interfaces and then when you decide you can change the concrete implementation that you want to use. Or other uses for interfaces is you could
use Interceptors using interfaces (Unity
Interceptor) to do different things where not all of these is feasible or at least as straightforward using abstract classes.
Regards
Aram

When to use abstract class compared to interface

hi
can some one plase advise me when to use abstract class compared to interface?
Example will be appreciated...

So an abstract class can carry implementation. This can be used to formulate a rule of thumb as to when to use it over an interface.
If you have a so called type specialization relationship between the subtypes and the supertype then they're likely to benefit from shared implementation provided by the supertype, so use class (abstract or concrete) extension in this case. Type specialization is when the supertype represents a general concept like Fruit and the subtypes are specialized forms of that like Apple and Banana.
Another common kind of relationship is called type expansion. In this case the subtypes are unlikely to have any use of implementation provided by the supertype, so use interface implementation. Type expansion is when the supertype represents a specific character the subtypes take on. For example Apple and Bicycle ure unrelated in the type specialization sense but still can share a common character like Comparable. The subtypes have been expanded to include the supertype character, namely the ability to be compared.

What is diff b/w abstarct and interface

what is diff b/w abstarct and interface in real time where we come across, give a best real time example

I think there have been lots of threads in this forum discussing interfaces and abstract classes.
http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jspa?forumID=256&threadID=389830
http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jspa?forumID=54&threadID=5120074
http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jspa?forumID=54&threadID=499077
http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jspa?forumID=31&threadID=546668
Interfaces define a contract for what an implementing class should provide. Abstract classes do the same but they can also provide some common part of the implementation.

About Classes and Interfaces

How can we define the classes and interfaces in an interview can u give me any realtime example for this

How can we define the classes and interfaces in an
interviewThe easiest explanation probably is to say that an interface in Java is a special class, namely a totally abstract one, that has been given a separate name.
Classes and interfaces (because they're classes in disguise) both constitute types, meaning that variables can be declared of them. The difference is that a class can carry implementation whereas an interface cannot (because it's totally abstract).
Java has single inheritance of implementation which means the the inheritance of classes is restricted to exactly one while you can inherit as many interfaces you like.

Difference between Abstarct Class and Interface

HI,
Here is a simple one for the gurus but quite important for me.
What is the difference b/w an Interface and an abstract class?
Why do we need each one of them?
I would appreciate if you people can give examples of each so that I amy understand fully
Thanks in advance...

A normal class (not abstract) has a special behaviour, like java.awt.Frame. A Frame is a frame no matter how you subclass it. If you create a subclass it will still be able to be displayed by calling it's show method. So by using a normal class you can create a type of class.
An abstract class does the same, but it leaves some of the code unwritten. For instance java.lang.Number. This class is abstract becuase it has no knowledge of how to store the number in memory. But it knows that it is a number, and any subclass will still be a number. You could create a subclass of Number that can hold the time in milliseconds and checks your system clock to see what the time is, it could also have methods that return the time in another country, but it would still be just a Number.
An interface is a way to describe what an object can do, not what it is. So with java.lang.Comparable as an example you can make any class comparable. This means that no matter what type of object you have, it can be compared with other objects. So you can have a subclass of Frame that can be compared with other windows. Or a subclass of Number that can be compared with other Numbers. You can even compare those two different types if you like. So you could compare a window with a number.
That is the difference between abstract classes and interfaces.
I hope you could follow my arguments, it isn't an easy subject,
Daniel

Difference between abstact class and interface

hi
i am new in java.
plz tell me abstract class support which type of polymorphisam and
interface support which type of polymorphisam
plz explain
bye
siva

There's only one type of polymorphism.
Does that make it mono-polymorphism? ;)
Indeed - do a search for the forums.
The short answer is that both abstract classes and interfaces define required method signatures for subclasses that extend/implement them, but abstract classes can have implementation for some or all methods that are not abstract; interfaces have no implementation whatsoever for any methods.

What are abstract classes/methods and what are they for?

Hi,
I've just heard about abstract classes and methods and I'm just wondering what exactly they're used for, and why are they there for the Graphics class for example?
Cheers.

raggy wrote:
bastones_ wrote:
Hi,
I've just heard about abstract classes and methods and I'm just wondering what exactly they're used for, and why are they there for the Graphics class for example?
Cheers.Hey bro, I'll try to solve your problemYou have to know two important concepts for this part. 1 is Abstract classes and the other is Interface classes. Depends on the nature of the project, you need to set certain level of standards and rules that the other developers must follow. This is where Abstract classes and Interface classes come into picture.
Abstract classes are usually used on small time projects, where it can have code implementation like general classes and also declare Abstract methods (empty methods that require implementation from the sub-classes).Wrong, they are used equally among big and small projects alike.
Here are the rules of an Abstract class and method:
1. Abstract classes cannot be instantiatedRight.
2. Abstract class can extend an abstract class and implement several interface classesRight, but the same is true for non-abstract classes, so nothing special here.
3. Abstract class cannot extend a general class or an interfaceWrong. Abstract classes can extend non-abstract ones. Best example: Object is non-abstract. How would you write an abstract class that doesn't extend Object (directly or indirectly)?
4. If a class contains Abstract method, the class has to be declared Abstract classRight.
5. An Abstract class may or may not contain an Abstract methodRight, and an important point to realize. A class need not have abstract methods to be an abstract class, although usually it will.
6. Abstract method should not have any code implementations, the sub-classes must override it (sub-class must give the code implementations). An abstract method must not have any implementation code code. It's more than a suggestion.
7. If a sub-class of an Abstract class does not override the Abstract methods of its super-class, than the sub-class should be declared Abstract also.This follows from point 4.
9. Abstract classes can only be declared with public and default access modifiers.That's the same for abstract and non-abstract classes.

Abstract/Concrete Superclasses and Interfaces

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