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Java - Abstraction
As per dictionary, abstraction is the quality of dealing with ideas rather than events. For
example, when you consider the case of e-mail, complex details such as what happens
as soon as you send an e-mail, the protocol your e-mail server uses are hidden from the
user. Therefore, to send an e-mail you just need to type the content, mention the
address of the receiver, and click send.
Java Abstraction
Abstraction is a process of hiding the implementation details from the user, only the
functionality will be provided to the user. In other words, the user will have the
information on what the object does instead of how it does it. In Java programming,
abstraction is achieved using Abstract classes and interfaces.
Java Abstract Classes
A Java class which contains the abstract keyword in its declaration is known as abstract
class.
Java abstract classes may or may not contain abstract methods, i.e., methods
without body ( public void get(); )
But, if a class has at least one abstract method, then the class must be declared
abstract.
If a class is declared abstract, it cannot be instantiated.
To use an abstract class, you have to inherit it from another class, provide
implementations to the abstract methods in it.
If you inherit an abstract class, you have to provide implementations to all the
abstract methods in it.
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Example: Java Abstract Class
This section provides you an example of the Java Abstract Class. To create an abstract
class in Java, just use the abstract keyword before the class keyword, in the class
declaration.
/* File name : Employee.java */
public abstract class Employee {
private String name;
private String address;
private int number;
public Employee(String name, String address, int number) {
System.out.println("Constructing an Employee");
this.name = name;
this.address = address;
this.number = number;
}
public double computePay() {
System.out.println("Inside Employee computePay");
return 0.0;
}
public void mailCheck() {
System.out.println("Mailing a check to " + this.name + " " +
this.address);
}
public String toString() {
return name + " " + address + " " + number;
}
public String getName() {
return name;
}
public String getAddress() {
return address;
}
public void setAddress(String newAddress) {
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address = newAddress;
}
public int getNumber() {
return number;
}
}
You can observe that except abstract methods the Employee class is same as normal
class in Java. The class is now abstract, but it still has three fields, seven methods, and
one constructor.
Now you can try to instantiate the Employee class in the following way −
Open Compiler
/* File name : AbstractDemo.java */
public class AbstractDemo {
public static void main(String [] args) {
/* Following is not allowed and would raise error */
Employee e = new Employee("George W.", "Houston, TX", 43);
System.out.println("\n Call mailCheck using Employee reference--");
e.mailCheck();
}
}
abstract class Employee {
private String name;
private String address;
private int number;
public Employee(String name, String address, int number) {
System.out.println("Constructing an Employee");
this.name = name;
this.address = address;
this.number = number;
}
public double computePay() {
System.out.println("Inside Employee computePay");
return 0.0;
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public void mailCheck() {
System.out.println("Mailing a check to " + this.name + " " +
this.address);
}
public String toString() {
return name + " " + address + " " + number;
}
public String getName() {
return name;
}
public String getAddress() {
return address;
}
public void setAddress(String newAddress) {
address = newAddress;
}
public int getNumber() {
return number;
}
}
When you compile the above class, it gives you the following error −
Employee.java:46: Employee is abstract; cannot be instantiated
Employee e = new Employee("George W.", "Houston, TX", 43);
^
1 error
Inheriting the Java Abstract Class
We can inherit the properties of Employee class just like concrete class in the following
way −
Example: Inheriting the Abstract Class in Java
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/* File name : Salary.java */
public class Salary extends Employee {
private double salary; // Annual salary
public Salary(String name, String address, int number, double salary) {
super(name, address, number);
setSalary(salary);
}
public void mailCheck() {
System.out.println("Within mailCheck of Salary class ");
System.out.println("Mailing check to " + getName() + " with salary " +
salary);
}
public double getSalary() {
return salary;
}
public void setSalary(double newSalary) {
if(newSalary >= 0.0) {
salary = newSalary;
}
}
public double computePay() {
System.out.println("Computing salary pay for " + getName());
return salary/52;
}
}
Here, you cannot instantiate the Employee class, but you can instantiate the Salary
Class, and using this instance you can access all the three fields and seven methods of
Employee class as shown below.
Open Compiler
/* File name : AbstractDemo.java */
public class AbstractDemo {
public static void main(String [] args) {
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Salary s = new Salary("Mohd Mohtashim", "Ambehta, UP", 3, 3600.00);
Employee e = new Salary("John Adams", "Boston, MA", 2, 2400.00);
System.out.println("Call mailCheck using Salary reference --");
s.mailCheck();
System.out.println("\n Call mailCheck using Employee reference--");
e.mailCheck();
}
}
abstract class Employee {
private String name;
private String address;
private int number;
public Employee(String name, String address, int number) {
System.out.println("Constructing an Employee");
this.name = name;
this.address = address;
this.number = number;
}
public double computePay() {
System.out.println("Inside Employee computePay");
return 0.0;
}
public void mailCheck() {
System.out.println("Mailing a check to " + this.name + " " +
this.address);
}
public String toString() {
return name + " " + address + " " + number;
}
public String getName() {
return name;
}
public String getAddress() {
return address;
}
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public void setAddress(String newAddress) {
address = newAddress;
}
public int getNumber() {
return number;
}
}
class Salary extends Employee {
private double salary; // Annual salary
public Salary(String name, String address, int number, double salary) {
super(name, address, number);
setSalary(salary);
}
public void mailCheck() {
System.out.println("Within mailCheck of Salary class ");
System.out.println("Mailing check to " + getName() + " with salary " +
salary);
}
public double getSalary() {
return salary;
}
public void setSalary(double newSalary) {
if(newSalary >= 0.0) {
salary = newSalary;
}
}
public double computePay() {
System.out.println("Computing salary pay for " + getName());
return salary/52;
}
}
Output
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Constructing an Employee
Constructing an Employee
Call mailCheck using Salary reference --
Within mailCheck of Salary class
Mailing check to Mohd Mohtashim with salary 3600.0
Call mailCheck using Employee reference--
Within mailCheck of Salary class
Mailing check to John Adams with salary 2400.0
Java Abstract Methods
If you want a class to contain a particular method but you want the actual
implementation of that method to be determined by child classes, you can declare the
method in the parent class as an abstract.
abstract keyword is used to declare the method as abstract.
You have to place the abstract keyword before the method name in the method
declaration.
An abstract method contains a method signature, but no method body.
Instead of curly braces, an abstract method will have a semoi colon (;) at the
end.
Example 1: Implementing Abstract Method in Java
Following is an example of the abstract method.
public abstract class Employee {
private String name;
private String address;
private int number;
public abstract double computePay();
// Remainder of class definition
}
Declaring a method as abstract has two consequences −
The class containing it must be declared as abstract.
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Any class inheriting the current class must either override the abstract method or
declare itself as abstract.
Note − Eventually, a descendant class has to implement the abstract method;
otherwise, you would have a hierarchy of abstract classes that cannot be instantiated.
Suppose Salary class inherits the Employee class, then it should implement the
computePay() method as shown below −
/* File name : Salary.java */
public class Salary extends Employee {
private double salary; // Annual salary
public double computePay() {
System.out.println("Computing salary pay for " + getName());
return salary/52;
}
// Remainder of class definition
}
Example 2: Implementing Abstract Method in Java
Following example showcases the concept of abstract method.
Open Compiler
/* File name : AbstractDemo.java */
public class AbstractDemo {
public static void main(String [] args) {
Salary s = new Salary("Mohd Mohtashim", "Ambehta, UP", 3, 3600.00);
System.out.println("salary: " + s.computePay());
}
}
abstract class Employee {
private String name;
private String address;
private int number;
public Employee(String name, String address, int number) {
System.out.println("Constructing an Employee");
this.name = name;
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this.address = address;
this.number = number;
}
public abstract double computePay();
// Remainder of class definition
public String getName() {
return name;
}
public void setName(String name) {
this.name = name;
}
public String getAddress() {
return address;
}
public void setAddress(String address) {
this.address = address;
}
public int getNumber() {
return number;
}
public void setNumber(int number) {
this.number = number;
}
}
class Salary extends Employee {
private double salary; // Annual salary
public Salary(String name, String address, int number, double salary) {
super(name, address, number);
this.salary = salary;
}
public double computePay() {
System.out.println("Computing salary pay for " + getName());
return salary/52;
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}
// Remainder of class definition
}
Output
Constructing an Employee
Computing salary pay for Mohd Mohtashim
salary: 69.23076923076923
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