Several key points you should pay attention to when using abstract classes:
A class containing one or more abstract methods must be declared as an abstract class.
Declaring a class as an abstract class does not necessarily contain abstract methods.
It is generally believed that specific methods should not be included in abstract classes. It is recommended to place common domains and methods in superclasses as much as possible.
Abstract classes cannot be instantiated, that is, objects of this class cannot be created.
Example code:
The code copy is as follows:
import java.util.*;
/**
* This program demonstrates abstract classes.
* @version 1.01 2004-02-21
* @author Cay Horstmann
*/
public class PersonTest
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
Person[] people = new Person[2];
// fill the people array with Student and Employee objects
people[0] = new Employee("Harry Hacker", 50000, 1989, 10, 1);
people[1] = new Student("Maria Morris", "computer science");
// print out names and descriptions of all Person objects
for (Person p : people)
System.out.println(p.getName() + ", " + p.getDescription());
}
}
abstract class Person
{
public Person(String n)
{
name = n;
}
public abstract String getDescription();
public String getName()
{
return name;
}
private String name;
}
class Employee extends Person
{
public Employee(String n, double s, int year, int month, int day)
{
super(n);
salary = s;
GregorianCalendar calendar = new GregorianCalendar(year, month - 1, day);
hireDay = calendar.getTime();
}
public double getSalary()
{
return salary;
}
public Date getHireDay()
{
return hireDay;
}
public String getDescription()
{
return String.format("an employee with a salary of $%.2f", salary);
}
public void raiseSalary(double byPercent)
{
double raise = salary * byPercent / 100;
salary += raise;
}
private double salary;
private Date hireDay;
}
class Student extends Person
{
/**
* @param n the student's name
* @param m the student's major
*/
public Student(String n, String m)
{
// pass n to superclass constructor
super(n);
major = m;
}
public String getDescription()
{
return "a student majoring in " + major;
}
private String major;
}
In code block:
The code copy is as follows:
for (Person p : people)
System.out.println(p.getName() + ", " + p.getDescription());
In p.getDescription(), the method that will refer to the subclass object of the specific subclass.
GetDescription() in Person class cannot be omitted because the compiler only allows calling methods declared in the class.