How do abstract classes differ from interfaces in Python?

Can you explain the difference between abstract classes and interfaces in Python?

Sure! In Python, abstract classes can have both abstract methods (without implementation) and concrete methods (with implementation), while interfaces (using the concept of protocols) only define methods without any implementation.

Can you give me an example of each?

Absolutely! An abstract class might look like this:

from abc import ABC, abstractmethod

class Animal(ABC):
    @abstractmethod
    def sound(self):
        pass

class Dog(Animal):
    def sound(self):
        return 'Bark'

And an interface can be represented using a protocol:

from typing import Protocol

class Sound(Protocol):
    def sound(self) -> str:
        pass

class Cat:
    def sound(self) -> str:
        return 'Meow'

What are the use cases for using abstract classes versus interfaces?

Abstract classes are useful when you want to provide a common base with shared code, while interfaces are great for defining a contract that multiple classes can implement without sharing code.