Chapter 10: Problem 21

What is the purpose of an abstract class?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Answer: The purpose of an abstract class in object-oriented programming is to provide a common interface and structure for other classes to inherit from, encapsulating common features and behaviors, and enforcing a contract among derived classes to implement certain methods. This promotes code reusability, maintainability, and consistency across derived classes, as they can reuse and override the methods declared in the abstract class while maintaining a common interface that makes it easy to work with them. This also facilitates future changes or updates to the functionality, as changes to the abstract class can be reflected automatically in the derived classes.

Step by step solution

Define abstract class

An abstract class is a class in object-oriented programming that cannot be instantiated (i.e., no objects can be created from it). It mainly serves as a blueprint for other classes to be derived (inherited) from it. Abstract classes can have both abstract (method with no body) and non-abstract methods (method with a body). The purpose of an abstract class is to provide a common interface and structure for other classes that inherit it, enforcing a consistent design and implementation across derived classes.

Encapsulating common features

One of the main purposes of an abstract class is to encapsulate common features and behaviors among related classes. It allows you to define method signatures (inputs and outputs) as well as default implementations for certain methods. By organizing these common features in an abstract class, you can avoid redundant code and ensure consistency across derived classes.

Enforcing a contract

Abstract classes are a way to enforce a contract among derived classes to implement certain methods. When a class inherits from an abstract class, it must provide an implementation for all of its abstract methods. Otherwise, it must be declared as abstract as well. This ensures that all classes in a class hierarchy that inherit from an abstract class will have a consistent set of methods.

Promote code reusability and maintainability

By having a common interface and structure defined with an abstract class, you promote code reusability and maintainability. Derived classes can reuse and override the methods declared in the abstract class as needed, while maintaining a common interface that makes it easy to understand and work with the derived classes. This also facilitates any future changes or updates to the functionality, as changes to the abstract class can be reflected automatically in the derived classes.

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What is the purpose of an abstract class?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Define abstract class

Encapsulating common features

Enforcing a contract

Promote code reusability and maintainability

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