💡 Abstraction is a core concept in object-oriented programming (OOP) that allows developers to hide complex implementation details and expose only essential features of a class or object.
Key Concepts
Abstract Classes:
- Cannot be instantiated directly.
- May contain abstract methods (without implementation) and concrete methods.
- Example:
abstract class Animal { abstract void makeSound(); void eat() { System.out.println("Eating..."); } }
Interfaces:
- Define a contract for classes to implement.
- Contain only abstract methods (in Java 8+ can have default/static methods).
- Example:
interface SoundMaker { void makeSound(); }
Practical Applications
- Simplify complex systems by focusing on high-level interactions.
- Achieve decoupling between components.
- Use abstract classes for shared functionality with common implementation.
- Interfaces for defining behavior without specifying how it’s implemented.
Example Scenario
Imagine a Vehicle
abstract class with an abstract method move()
. Subclasses like Car
and Bicycle
implement this method differently.
Further Learning
For a deeper dive into polymorphism (another OOP pillar closely related to abstraction), check out:
Polymorphism in Java OOP
Explore more Java advanced topics: Java OOP Guide