Can an abstract class have a constructor?

Can an abstract class have a constructor?

Yes! Abstract classes can have constructors! Yes, when we define a class to be an Abstract Class it cannot be instantiated but that does not mean an Abstract class cannot have a constructor. Each abstract class must have a concrete subclass which will implement the abstract methods of that abstract class.

Can abstract class have method body?

Abstract methods cannot have a body; all they can have is a method signature as shown in the example above. Variables are not allowed in interface. Hence any data declaration is ‘ public static final ‘; hence only constants. Interfaces can extend other interfaces ( one or more ) but not classes ( abstract or not ).

Why does an abstract class have a constructor?

Abstract classes require constructors to enforce a design contract using which objects can be initialized. Constructor can be used to setting up an attribute of the base class. This attribute will be available in subclass by inheritance. Before using this attribute, using the constructor it can be initialized.

Why do we need constructors inside abstract class?

The main purpose of the constructor is to initialize the newly created object. In abstract class, we have an instance variable, abstract methods, and non-abstract methods. The constructor inside the abstract class can only be called during constructor chaining i.e. when we create an instance of sub-classes.

Why can’t we instantiate an abstract class?

Because an abstract class is an incomplete class (incomplete in the sense it contains abstract methods without body and output) we cannot create an instance or object; the same way you say for an interface. You CAN instantiate an abstract class. You only need to provide a concrete subclass.

Can an interface have a constructor?

No, you cannot have a constructor within an interface in Java. You can have only public, static, final variables and, public, abstract, methods as of Java7. From Java8 onwards interfaces allow default methods and static methods.