Abstract Class vs Interface: Which One to Use and Why?

People are getting confused when this question heads up in the interview.2 min


when to use interface and abstract class in java

Learn when and what will be helpful from the Interface or Abstract class.

Cover Image Credits: Image by Author | Interface and Abstract Class


When it comes to designing software in object-oriented programming, understanding the difference between an abstract class and an interface is crucial for creating effective, maintainable code. An abstract class serves as a blueprint for other classes, allowing you to define shared attributes and methods that can be inherited by subclasses. This means you can implement common functionality in the abstract class itself while also providing the flexibility for subclasses to define their specific behaviors. It’s ideal for scenarios where classes share a significant amount of code and are closely related in functionality.

In contrast, an interface defines a contract that classes must adhere to, specifying methods that must be implemented without providing any implementation details. This makes interfaces a powerful tool for achieving loose coupling and enhancing the flexibility of your design. They allow multiple classes to implement the same set of methods, promoting a more modular approach. Choosing between an abstract class and an interface depends on the specific requirements of your application; use an abstract class when you have a clear hierarchical relationship with shared code, and opt for an interface when you want to define capabilities that can be implemented across various, potentially unrelated classes. Understanding these distinctions will help you make informed design choices that enhance the robustness and scalability of your software.

Interface

An interface is just the declaration of methods of an object; it’s not the implementation. In an interface, we define what kind of operation an object can perform. These operations are defined by the classes that implement the interface. Interfaces form a contract between the class and the outside world, and this contract is enforced at build time by the compiler.

interface Vehical {
            // declaration
            void changeGear(int newValue);
             void speedUp(int increment);
             void applyBrakes(int decrement);
}
class Car implements Vehical {
         int speed = 0;
         int gear = 1;
         // implementation
         void changeGear(int newValue) {
                 gear = newValue;
          }
          void speedUp(int increment) {
                 speed = speed + increment; 
          }
           void applyBrakes(int decrement) {
                 speed = speed - decrement;
           }
            void printStates() {
                  System.out.println(" speed:" + speed + " gear:" + gear);
            }
}

Consider using interfaces if any of these statements apply to your situation:

  1. You want to specify the behavior of a particular data type, but not concerned about who implements its behavior.
  2. You want to take advantage of multiple inheritances.
  3. You expect that unrelated classes would implement your interface. For example, the interfaces Comparable and Cloneable are implemented by many unrelated classes.

Abstract Class

An abstract class is a class that is declared abstract — it may or may not include abstract methods. Abstract classes cannot be instantiated, but they can be subclassed. An abstract class may have static fields and static methods. When an abstract class is subclassed, the subclass usually provides implementations for all of the abstract methods in its parent class. However, if it does not, then the subclass must also be declared abstract.

An abstract method is a method that is declared without an implementation (without braces and followed by a semicolon), like this:

abstract void fetchData(String a, String b);

Consider using abstract classes if any of these statements apply to your situation:

  1. You want to declare non-static or non-final fields. This enables you to define methods that can access and modify the state of the object to which they belong.
  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 share code among several closely related classes.

Wrapping up...

Now, when to use and what to use part is clear, Right?

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Rakshit Shah

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