How do I use abstract classes in C#?

How do I use abstract classes in C#?

Abstract classes in C# are classes that cannot be instantiated and are meant to be inherited. They can contain abstract methods, which are declared without an implementation, and concrete methods with implementations.

Can you give me an example of an abstract class?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

abstract class Animal {
    public abstract void MakeSound();
}

class Dog : Animal {
    public override void MakeSound() {
        Console.WriteLine("Bark");
    }
}

In this example, Animal is an abstract class with an abstract method MakeSound. The Dog class inherits from Animal and provides an implementation for MakeSound.

What happens if I try to instantiate an abstract class?

If you try to instantiate an abstract class, you'll get a compilation error. Abstract classes are designed to be base classes, so you must create a derived class that implements the abstract methods.

Are there any restrictions on abstract classes?

Yes, abstract classes cannot be instantiated directly, and they can contain both abstract methods (without implementation) and concrete methods (with implementation). However, they cannot be marked as sealed.