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1) Can Abstract Class Have Constructors in Java?

An abstract class can have constructors, static methods, and a main method in Java. While an abstract class cannot be instantiated, its constructors can be called during inheritance and its static methods can be called without instantiation. An abstract class may also implement interfaces without having to implement all interface methods since it is abstract. The key differences between abstract classes and interfaces are that abstract classes can include fields and default implementations while interfaces only include method signatures.

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34 views

1) Can Abstract Class Have Constructors in Java?

An abstract class can have constructors, static methods, and a main method in Java. While an abstract class cannot be instantiated, its constructors can be called during inheritance and its static methods can be called without instantiation. An abstract class may also implement interfaces without having to implement all interface methods since it is abstract. The key differences between abstract classes and interfaces are that abstract classes can include fields and default implementations while interfaces only include method signatures.

Uploaded by

saranya sahoo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1) Can abstract class have constructors in Java?

Yes, an abstract class can declare and define a constructor in Java. Since you can not create an
instance of an abstract class, a constructor can only be called during constructor chaining, i.e.
5 when you create an instance of the concrete implementation class.

Now some interviewer, ask what is the purpose of a constructor, if you can not instantiate
abstract class? Well, it can still be used to initialize common variables, which are declared inside
an abstract class, and used by the various implementation.

Also even if you don’t provide any constructor, the compiler will add default no-argument
10 constructor in an abstract class, without that your subclass will not compile, since the first
statement in any constructor implicitly calls super(), default superclass constructor in Java.

2) Can abstract class implements interface in Java? do they require to


implement all methods?
Yes, an abstract class can implement an interface by using the implements keyword. Since they
15 are abstract, they don’t need to implement all methods. It’s good practice to provide an abstract
base class, along with an interface to declare Type. One example of this is java.util.List interface
and corresponding java.util.AbstractList abstract class.

Since AbstractList implements all common methods, concrete implementations like LinkedList
and ArrayList are free from the burden of implementing all methods, had they implemented List
20 interface directly.

It’s best of both worlds, you can get the advantage of interface for declaring type, and flexibility
of abstract class to implement common behavior in one place. Effective Java has a nice chapter
on how to use interface and abstract class in Java, which is worth reading.

3) Can an abstract class be final in Java?


25 No, an abstract class can not be final in Java. Making them final will stop the abstract class from
being extended, which is the only way to use an abstract class. They are also opposite of each
other, abstract keyword enforces to extend a class, for using it, on the other hand, final keyword
prevents a class from being extended. In real world also, abstract signifies incompleteness, while
final is used to demonstrate completeness. Bottom line is, you can not make your class abstract
30 and final in Java, at same time, it’s a compile time error.

4) Can abstract class have static methods in Java?


Yes, an abstract class can declare and define static methods, nothing prevents from doing that.
But, you must follow guidelines for making a method static in Java, as it’s not welcomed in a
object oriented design, because static methods can not be overridden in Java. It’s very rare, you
see static methods inside abstract class, but as I said, if you have very good reason of doing it,
5 then nothing stops you.

5) Can you create an instance of abstract class?


No, you can not create instance of abstract class in Java, they are incomplete. Even though, if
your abstract class don’t contain any abstract method, you can not create instance of it. By
making a class abstract, you told compiler that, it’s incomplete and should not be instantiated.
10 Java compiler will throw error, when a code tries to instantiate abstract class.

6) Is it necessary for an abstract class to have an abstract method?


No, It’s not mandatory for an abstract class to have any abstract method. You can make a class
abstract in Java, by just using abstract keyword in class declaration. Compiler will enforce all
structural restriction, applied to abstract class, e.g. now allowing to create any instance. By the
15 way, it’s debatable whether you should have abstract method inside abstract class or interface.
In my opinion, abstract class should have abstract methods, because that’s the first thing
programmer assumes, when he see that class. That would also go nicely along principle of least
surprise.

7) Difference between abstract class and interface in Java?


20 This is the most important and one of the classic Java Interview question. I don’t know, how
many times I have seen this question at all most all levels of Java interviews. One reason, which
makes this question interesting is the ability to produce example. It’s easy to answers questions
on core OOPS concepts like Abstraction, Encapsulation, Polymorphism and Inheritance, but
when it comes to subtle points like this, candidate more often fumbled. You can see this post for
25 all syntactical difference between abstract class and interface, but it deserve a post on it’s own.

8) When do you favor abstract class over interface?


This is the follow-up of previous interview questions on abstract class and interface. If you know
syntactical difference, you can answer this question quite easily, as they are the one, which
drives the decision. Since it’s almost impossible to add a new method on a published interface,
30 it’s better to use abstract class, when evolution is concern. Abstract class in Java evolves better
than interface. Similarly, if you have too many methods inside interface, you are creating pain for
all it’s implementation, consider providing an abstract class for default implementation. This is
the pattern followed in Java collection package, you can see AbstractList provides default
implementation for List interface.
9) What is abstract method in Java?
An abstract method is a method without body. You just declare method, without defining it and
use abstract keyword in method declaration. All method declared inside Java Interface are by
default abstract. Here is an example of abstract method in Java

5 public void abstract printVersion();

Now, In order to implement this method, you need to extend abstract class and override this
method.

10) Can abstract class contains main method in Java ?


Yes, abstract class can contain main method, it just another static method and you can execute
10 Abstract class with main method, until you don’t create any instance.

Read more: https://javarevisited.blogspot.com/2013/04/10-abstract-class-and-interface-


interview-question-java-answers.html#ixzz6tVgXAAux

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