What are the best practices for using abstract classes in Python?

What are the best practices for using abstract classes in Python?

When using abstract classes in Python, it's important to ensure that they define a clear interface for subclasses. Use the abc module to create abstract base classes.

Can you give me an example of an abstract class?

Sure! 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 'Bark'

What should I avoid when using abstract classes?

Avoid implementing too much functionality in abstract classes. They should primarily define interfaces, not provide concrete implementations.

How do abstract classes differ from interfaces in Python?

In Python, abstract classes can have both abstract methods and concrete methods, while interfaces (using abstract base classes) typically only define abstract methods.