What are abstract classes in Java?

What are abstract classes in Java?

Abstract classes in Java are classes that cannot be instantiated on their own and are meant to be subclassed. They can contain abstract methods (without a body) and concrete methods (with a body).

Can you give me an example of an abstract class?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

abstract class Animal {
    abstract void sound();
}

class Dog extends Animal {
    void sound() {
        System.out.println("Bark");
    }
}

In this example, Animal is an abstract class with an abstract method sound(), and Dog is a concrete subclass that implements the sound() method.

What is the purpose of using abstract classes?

Abstract classes allow you to define a template for other classes. They enable code reusability and enforce a contract for subclasses to implement specific methods.

Can an abstract class have a constructor?

Yes, an abstract class can have a constructor. This constructor can be called when a subclass is instantiated, allowing you to initialize common properties.