10.4. Abstract Classes and Methods
When we think of a class type, we assume that programs will create objects of that type. In some cases, however, it is useful to declare classes for which the programmer never intends to instantiate objects. Such classes are called abstract classes. Because they are used only as superclasses in inheritance hierarchies, we refer to them as abstract superclasses. These classes cannot be used to instantiate objects, because, as we will soon see, abstract classes are incomplete. Subclasses must declare the “missing pieces.” We demonstrate abstract classes in Section 10.5.
An abstract class’s purpose is to provide an appropriate superclass from which other classes can inherit and thus share a common design. In the ...
Get Java™ How to Program, Seventh Edition now with the O’Reilly learning platform.
O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.
