Interface-in-Java
Interface-in-Java
An interface in Java is a blueprint of a class. It has static constants and abstract methods.
The interface in Java is a mechanism to achieve abstraction. There can be only abstract methods in the
Java interface, not method body. It is used to achieve abstraction and multiple inheritance in Java.
In other words, you can say that interfaces can have abstract methods and variables. It cannot have a
method body.
Syntax:
1. interface <interface_name>{
2.
3. // declare constant fields
4. // declare methods that abstract
5. // by default.
6. }
The Java compiler adds public and abstract keywords before the interface method. Moreover, it adds
public, static and final keywords before data members.
In other words, Interface fields are public, static and final by default, and the methods are public and
abstract.
1. interface printable{
2. void print();
3. }
4. class A6 implements printable{
5. public void print(){System.out.println("Hello");}
6.
7. public static void main(String args[]){
8. A6 obj = new A6();
9. obj.print();
10. }
11. }
Test it Now
Output:
Hello
File: TestInterface1.java
Output:
drawing circle
File: TestInterface2.java
1. interface Bank{
2. float rateOfInterest();
3. }
4. class SBI implements Bank{
5. public float rateOfInterest(){return 9.15f;}
6. }
7. class PNB implements Bank{
8. public float rateOfInterest(){return 9.7f;}
9. }
10. class TestInterface2{
11. public static void main(String[] args){
12. Bank b=new SBI();
13. System.out.println("ROI: "+b.rateOfInterest());
14. }}
Test it Now
Output:
ROI: 9.15
Multiple inheritance in Java by interface
If a class implements multiple interfaces, or an interface extends multiple interfaces, it is known as
multiple inheritance.
1. interface Printable{
2. void print();
3. }
4. interface Showable{
5. void show();
6. }
7. class A7 implements Printable,Showable{
8. public void print(){System.out.println("Hello");}
9. public void show(){System.out.println("Welcome");}
10.
11. public static void main(String args[]){
12. A7 obj = new A7();
13. obj.print();
14. obj.show();
15. }
16. }
Test it Now
Output:Hello
Welcome
Output:
Hello
As you can see in the above example, Printable and Showable interface have same methods but its
implementation is provided by class TestTnterface1, so there is no ambiguity.
Interface inheritance
A class implements an interface, but one interface extends another interface.
1. interface Printable{
2. void print();
3. }
4. interface Showable extends Printable{
5. void show();
6. }
7. class TestInterface4 implements Showable{
8. public void print(){System.out.println("Hello");}
9. public void show(){System.out.println("Welcome");}
10.
11. public static void main(String args[]){
12. TestInterface4 obj = new TestInterface4();
13. obj.print();
14. obj.show();
15. }
16. }
Test it Now
Output:
Hello
Welcome
File: TestInterfaceDefault.java
1. interface Drawable{
2. void draw();
3. default void msg(){System.out.println("default method");}
4. }
5. class Rectangle implements Drawable{
6. public void draw(){System.out.println("drawing rectangle");}
7. }
8. class TestInterfaceDefault{
9. public static void main(String args[]){
10. Drawable d=new Rectangle();
11. d.draw();
12. d.msg();
13. }}
Test it Now
Output:
drawing rectangle
default method
File: TestInterfaceStatic.java
1. interface Drawable{
2. void draw();
3. static int cube(int x){return x*x*x;}
4. }
5. class Rectangle implements Drawable{
6. public void draw(){System.out.println("drawing rectangle");}
7. }
8.
9. class TestInterfaceStatic{
10. public static void main(String args[]){
11. Drawable d=new Rectangle();
12. d.draw();
13. System.out.println(Drawable.cube(3));
14. }}
Test it Now
Output:
drawing rectangle
27
1. interface printable{
2. void print();
3. interface MessagePrintable{
4. void msg();
5. }
6. }