What are abstract base classes in Python and how do I use them?

What are abstract base classes in Python and how do I use them?

Abstract Base Classes (ABCs) in Python are a way to define common interfaces for a group of related classes. They allow you to enforce that certain methods are implemented in subclasses.

Can you give me an example of how to create an abstract base class?

Sure! You can use the abc module. Here's a simple example:

from abc import ABC, abstractmethod

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

class Dog(Animal):
    def sound(self):
        return 'Woof!'

class Cat(Animal):
    def sound(self):
        return 'Meow!'

How do I ensure that subclasses implement the abstract methods?

By using the @abstractmethod decorator, any subclass that does not implement the abstract method will raise a TypeError when instantiated.

Can I have multiple abstract methods in one class?

Yes, you can define multiple abstract methods in a single abstract base class. Each method can be decorated with @abstractmethod.