---
title: "What is abstract class?"  
description: "What is abstract class?"  
author: "Samuel Fernandes"  
published: 2015-04-03  
updated: 2020-09-21  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/2394/what-is-abstract-class  
category: "java"  
tags: ["java"]  
reading_time: 3 minutes  

---

# What is abstract class?

A class that is declared with abstract keyword, is known as abstract class in java. It can have abstract and non-abstract methods (method with body).It needs to be extended and its method implemented. It cannot be instantiated. abstract class A{} \
**Abstract method:** A method that is declared as abstract and does not have implementation is known as abstract method. abstract void printStatus();//no body and abstract \
**Example****:**Bike the abstract class that contains only one abstract method run. It implementation is provided by the Honda class.\

```
abstract class Bike{    abstract void run();  }    class Honda4 extends Bike{  void run(){System.out.println("running safely..");}    public static void main(String args[]){   Bike obj = new Honda4();   obj.run();  }  }  
```

\
**Output :** running safely..\
\
**Real Scenario**Shape is the abstract class, its implementation is provided by the Rectangle and Circle classes. Mostly, we don't know about the implementation class (i.e. hidden to the end user) and object of the implementation class is provided by the factory method.A factory method is the method that returns the instance of the class. We will learn about the factory method later.In this example, if you create the instance of Rectangle class, draw() method of Rectangle class will be invoked

```
abstract class Shape{  abstract void draw();  }  //In real scenario, implementation is provided by others i.e. unknown by end user  class Rectangle extends Shape{  void draw(){System.out.println("drawing rectangle");}  }    class Circle1 extends Shape{  void draw(){System.out.println("drawing circle");}  }    //In real scenario, method is called by programmer or user  class TestAbstraction1{  public static void main(String args[]){  Shape s=new Circle1();//In real scenario, object is provided through method e.g. getShape() method  s.draw();  }  } 
```

Output: drawing circle

## Answers

### Answer by Anonymous User

A class that is declared with abstract keyword, is known as abstract class in java. It can have abstract and non-abstract methods (method with body).It needs to be extended and its method implemented. It cannot be instantiated. abstract class A{} \
**Abstract method:** A method that is declared as abstract and does not have implementation is known as abstract method. abstract void printStatus();//no body and abstract \
**Example****:**Bike the abstract class that contains only one abstract method run. It implementation is provided by the Honda class.\

```
abstract class Bike{    abstract void run();  }    class Honda4 extends Bike{  void run(){System.out.println("running safely..");}    public static void main(String args[]){   Bike obj = new Honda4();   obj.run();  }  }  
```

\
**Output :** running safely..\
\
**Real Scenario**Shape is the abstract class, its implementation is provided by the Rectangle and Circle classes. Mostly, we don't know about the implementation class (i.e. hidden to the end user) and object of the implementation class is provided by the factory method.A factory method is the method that returns the instance of the class. We will learn about the factory method later.In this example, if you create the instance of Rectangle class, draw() method of Rectangle class will be invoked

```
abstract class Shape{  abstract void draw();  }  //In real scenario, implementation is provided by others i.e. unknown by end user  class Rectangle extends Shape{  void draw(){System.out.println("drawing rectangle");}  }    class Circle1 extends Shape{  void draw(){System.out.println("drawing circle");}  }    //In real scenario, method is called by programmer or user  class TestAbstraction1{  public static void main(String args[]){  Shape s=new Circle1();//In real scenario, object is provided through method e.g. getShape() method  s.draw();  }  } 
```

Output: drawing circle


---

Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/2394/what-is-abstract-class

Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.