How should I have explained the difference between an Interface and an Abstract class?

Question

In one of my interviews, I have been asked to explain the difference between an Interface and an Abstract class.

Here's my response:

Methods of a Java interface are implicitly abstract and cannot have implementations. A Java abstract class can have instance methods that implements a default behaviour.

Variables declared in a Java interface are by default final. An abstract class may contain non-final variables.

Members of a Java interface are public by default. A Java abstract class can have the usual flavours of class members like private, protected, etc.

A Java interface should be implemented using keyword “implements”; A Java abstract class should be extended using keyword “extends”.

An interface can extend another Java interface only, an abstract class can extend another Java class and implement multiple Java interfaces.

A Java class can implement multiple interfaces but it can extend only one abstract class.

However, the interviewer was not satisfied, and told me that this description represented "bookish knowledge".

He asked me for a more practical response, explaining when I would choose an abstract class over an interface, using practical examples.

Where did I go wrong?

Solution 1

I will give you an example first:

public interface LoginAuth{
   public String encryptPassword(String pass);
   public void checkDBforUser();
}

Suppose you have 3 databases in your application. Then each and every implementation for that database needs to define the above 2 methods:

public class DBMySQL implements LoginAuth{
          // Needs to implement both methods
}
public class DBOracle implements LoginAuth{
          // Needs to implement both methods
}
public class DBAbc implements LoginAuth{
          // Needs to implement both methods
}

But what if encryptPassword() is not database dependent, and it's the same for each class? Then the above would not be a good approach.

Instead, consider this approach:

public abstract class LoginAuth{
   public String encryptPassword(String pass){
            // Implement the same default behavior here 
            // that is shared by all subclasses.
   }

   // Each subclass needs to provide their own implementation of this only:
   public abstract void checkDBforUser();
}

Now in each child class, we only need to implement one method - the method that is database dependent.

Solution 2

Nothing is perfect in this world. They may have been expecting more of a practical approach.

But after your explanation you could add these lines with a slightly different approach.

1. Interfaces are rules (rules because you must give an implementation to them that you can't ignore or avoid, so that they are imposed like rules) which works as a common understanding document among various teams in software development.

2. Interfaces give the idea what is to be done but not how it will be done. So implementation completely depends on developer by following the given rules (means given signature of methods).

3. Abstract classes may contain abstract declarations, concrete implementations, or both.

4. Abstract declarations are like rules to be followed and concrete implementations are like guidelines (you can use it as it is or you can ignore it by overriding and giving your own implementation to it).

5. Moreover which methods with same signature may change the behaviour in different context are provided as interface declarations as rules to implement accordingly in different contexts.

Edit: Java 8 facilitates to define default and static methods in interface.

public interface SomeInterfaceOne {

    void usualAbstractMethod(String inputString);

    default void defaultMethod(String inputString){
        System.out.println("Inside SomeInterfaceOne defaultMethod::"+inputString);
    }
}

Now when a class will implement SomeInterface, it is not mandatory to provide implementation for default methods of interface.

If we have another interface with following methods:

public interface SomeInterfaceTwo {

    void usualAbstractMethod(String inputString);

    default void defaultMethod(String inputString){
        System.out.println("Inside SomeInterfaceTwo defaultMethod::"+inputString);
    }

}

Java doesn’t allow extending multiple classes because it results in the “Diamond Problem” where compiler is not able to decide which superclass method to use. With the default methods, the diamond problem will arise for interfaces too. Because if a class is implementing both

SomeInterfaceOne and SomeInterfaceTwo

and doesn’t implement the common default method, compiler can’t decide which one to chose. To avoid this problem, in java 8 it is mandatory to implement common default methods of different interfaces. If any class is implementing both the above interfaces, it has to provide implementation for defaultMethod() method otherwise compiler will throw compile time error.

Solution 3

You made a good summary of the practical differences in use and implementation but did not say anything about the difference in meaning.

An interface is a description of the behaviour an implementing class will have. The implementing class ensures, that it will have these methods that can be used on it. It is basically a contract or a promise the class has to make.

An abstract class is a basis for different subclasses that share behaviour which does not need to be repeatedly created. Subclasses must complete the behaviour and have the option to override predefined behaviour (as long as it is not defined as final or private).

You will find good examples in the java.util package which includes interfaces like List and abstract classes like AbstractList which already implements the interface. The official documentation describes the AbstractList as follows:

This class provides a skeletal implementation of the List interface to minimize the effort required to implement this interface backed by a "random access" data store (such as an array).

Solution 4

An interface consists of singleton variables (public static final) and public abstract methods. We normally prefer to use an interface in real time when we know what to do but don't know how to do it.

This concept can be better understood by example:

Consider a Payment class. Payment can be made in many ways, such as PayPal, credit card etc. So we normally take Payment as our interface which contains a makePayment() method and CreditCard and PayPal are the two implementation classes.

public interface Payment
{
    void makePayment();//by default it is a abstract method
}
public class PayPal implements Payment
{
    public void makePayment()
    {
        //some logic for PayPal payment
        //e.g. Paypal uses username and password for payment
    }
}
public class CreditCard implements Payment
{
    public void makePayment()
    {
        //some logic for CreditCard payment
        //e.g. CreditCard uses card number, date of expiry etc...
    }
}

In the above example CreditCard and PayPal are two implementation classes /strategies. An Interface also allows us the concept of multiple inheritance in Java which cannot be accomplished by an abstract class.

We choose an abstract class when there are some features for which we know what to do, and other features that we know how to perform.

Consider the following example:

public abstract class Burger
{
    public void packing()
    {
        //some logic for packing a burger
    }
    public abstract void price(); //price is different for different categories of burgers
}
public class VegBerger extends Burger
{
    public void price()
    {
        //set price for a veg burger.
    }
}
public class NonVegBerger extends Burger
{
    public void price()
    {
        //set price for a non-veg burger.
    }
}

If we add methods (concrete/abstract) in the future to a given abstract class, then the implementation class will not need a change its code. However, if we add methods in an interface in the future, we must add implementations to all classes that implemented that interface, otherwise compile time errors occur.

There are other differences but these are major ones which may have been what your interviewer expected . Hopefully this was helpful.

Solution 5

1.1 Difference between Abstract class and interface

1.1.1. Abstract classes versus interfaces in Java 8
1.1.2. Conceptual Difference:

1.2 Interface Default Methods in Java 8

1.2.1. What is Default Method?
1.2.2. ForEach method compilation error solved using Default Method
1.2.3. Default Method and Multiple Inheritance Ambiguity Problems
1.2.4. Important points about java interface default methods:

1.3 Java Interface Static Method

1.3.1. Java Interface Static Method, code example, static method vs default method
1.3.2. Important points about java interface static method:

1.4 Java Functional Interfaces

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---

1.1.1. Abstract classes versus interfaces in Java 8

Java 8 interface changes include static methods and default methods in interfaces. Prior to Java 8, we could have only method declarations in the interfaces. But from Java 8, we can have default methods and static methods in the interfaces.

After introducing Default Method, it seems that interfaces and abstract classes are same. However, they are still different concept in Java 8.

Abstract class can define constructor. They are more structured and can have a state associated with them. While in contrast, default method can be implemented only in the terms of invoking other interface methods, with no reference to a particular implementation's state. Hence, both use for different purposes and choosing between two really depends on the scenario context.

1.1.2. Conceptual Difference:

Abstract classes are valid for skeletal (i.e. partial) implementations of interfaces but should not exist without a matching interface.

So when abstract classes are effectively reduced to be low-visibility, skeletal implementations of interfaces, can default methods take this away as well? Decidedly: No! Implementing interfaces almost always requires some or all of those class-building tools which default methods lack. And if some interface doesn’t, it is clearly a special case, which should not lead you astray.

1.2 Interface Default Methods in Java 8

Java 8 introduces “Default Method” or (Defender methods) new feature, which allows developer to add new methods to the Interfaces without breaking the existing implementation of these Interface. It provides flexibility to allow Interface define implementation which will use as default in the situation where a concrete Class fails to provide an implementation for that method.

Let consider small example to understand how it works:

public interface OldInterface {
    public void existingMethod();
 
    default public void newDefaultMethod() {
        System.out.println("New default method"
               + " is added in interface");
    }
}

The following Class will compile successfully in Java JDK 8,

public class OldInterfaceImpl implements OldInterface {
    public void existingMethod() {
     // existing implementation is here…
    }
}

If you create an instance of OldInterfaceImpl:

OldInterfaceImpl obj = new OldInterfaceImpl ();
// print “New default method add in interface”
obj.newDefaultMethod(); 

---

1.2.1. Default Method:

Default methods are never final, can not be synchronized and can not override Object’s methods. They are always public, which severely limits the ability to write short and reusable methods.

Default methods can be provided to an Interface without affecting implementing Classes as it includes an implementation. If each added method in an Interface defined with implementation then no implementing Class is affected. An implementing Class can override the default implementation provided by the Interface.

Default methods enable to add new functionality to existing Interfaces without breaking older implementation of these Interfaces.

When we extend an interface that contains a default method, we can perform following,

1. Not override the default method and will inherit the default method.
2. Override the default method similar to other methods we override in subclass.
3. Redeclare default method as abstract, which force subclass to override it.

---

1.2.2. ForEach method compilation error solved using Default Method

For Java 8, the JDK collections have been extended and forEach method is added to the entire collection (which work in conjunction with lambdas). With conventional way, the code looks like below,

public interface Iterable<T> {
    public void forEach(Consumer<? super T> consumer);
}

Since this result each implementing Class with compile errors therefore, a default method added with a required implementation in order that the existing implementation should not be changed.

The Iterable Interface with the Default method is below,

public interface Iterable<T> {
    public default void forEach(Consumer
                   <? super T> consumer) {
        for (T t : this) {
            consumer.accept(t);
        }
    }
}

The same mechanism has been used to add Stream in JDK Interface without breaking the implementing Classes.

---

1.2.3. Default Method and Multiple Inheritance Ambiguity Problems

Since java Class can implement multiple Interfaces and each Interface can define default method with same method signature, therefore, the inherited methods can conflict with each other.

Consider below example,

public interface InterfaceA {  
       default void defaultMethod(){  
           System.out.println("Interface A default method");  
    }  
}
 
public interface InterfaceB {
   default void defaultMethod(){
       System.out.println("Interface B default method");
   }
}
 
public class Impl implements InterfaceA, InterfaceB  {
}

The above code will fail to compile with the following error,

java: class Impl inherits unrelated defaults for defaultMethod() from types InterfaceA and InterfaceB

In order to fix this class, we need to provide default method implementation:

public class Impl implements InterfaceA, InterfaceB {
    public void defaultMethod(){
    }
}

Further, if we want to invoke default implementation provided by any of super Interface rather than our own implementation, we can do so as follows,

public class Impl implements InterfaceA, InterfaceB {
    public void defaultMethod(){
        // existing code here..
        InterfaceA.super.defaultMethod();
    }
}

We can choose any default implementation or both as part of our new method.

1.2.4. Important points about java interface default methods:

1. Java interface default methods will help us in extending interfaces without having the fear of breaking implementation classes.
2. Java interface default methods have bridge down the differences between interfaces and abstract classes.
3. Java 8 interface default methods will help us in avoiding utility classes, such as all the Collections class method can be provided in the interfaces itself.
4. Java interface default methods will help us in removing base implementation classes, we can provide default implementation and the implementation classes can chose which one to override.
5. One of the major reason for introducing default methods in interfaces is to enhance the Collections API in Java 8 to support lambda expressions.
6. If any class in the hierarchy has a method with same signature, then default methods become irrelevant. A default method cannot override a method from java.lang.Object. The reasoning is very simple, it’s because Object is the base class for all the java classes. So even if we have Object class methods defined as default methods in interfaces, it will be useless because Object class method will always be used. That’s why to avoid confusion, we can’t have default methods that are overriding Object class methods.
7. Java interface default methods are also referred to as Defender Methods or Virtual extension methods.

Resource Link:

1. When to use: Java 8+ interface default method, vs. abstract method
2. Abstract class versus interface in the JDK 8 era
3. Interface evolution via virtual extension methods

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1.3 Java Interface Static Method

1.3.1. Java Interface Static Method, code example, static method vs default method

Java interface static method is similar to default method except that we can’t override them in the implementation classes. This feature helps us in avoiding undesired results incase of poor implementation in implementation classes. Let’s look into this with a simple example.

public interface MyData {

    default void print(String str) {
        if (!isNull(str))
            System.out.println("MyData Print::" + str);
    }

    static boolean isNull(String str) {
        System.out.println("Interface Null Check");

        return str == null ? true : "".equals(str) ? true : false;
    }
}

Now let’s see an implementation class that is having isNull() method with poor implementation.

public class MyDataImpl implements MyData {

    public boolean isNull(String str) {
        System.out.println("Impl Null Check");

        return str == null ? true : false;
    }
    
    public static void main(String args[]){
        MyDataImpl obj = new MyDataImpl();
        obj.print("");
        obj.isNull("abc");
    }
}

Note that isNull(String str) is a simple class method, it’s not overriding the interface method. For example, if we will add @Override annotation to the isNull() method, it will result in compiler error.

Now when we will run the application, we get following output.

Interface Null Check

Impl Null Check

If we make the interface method from static to default, we will get following output.

Impl Null Check

MyData Print::

Impl Null Check

Java interface static method is visible to interface methods only, if we remove the isNull() method from the MyDataImpl class, we won’t be able to use it for the MyDataImpl object. However like other static methods, we can use interface static methods using class name. For example, a valid statement will be:

boolean result = MyData.isNull("abc");

1.3.2. Important points about java interface static method:

1. Java interface static method is part of interface, we can’t use it for implementation class objects.
2. Java interface static methods are good for providing utility methods, for example null check, collection sorting etc.
3. Java interface static method helps us in providing security by not allowing implementation classes to override them.
4. We can’t define interface static method for Object class methods, we will get compiler error as “This static method cannot hide the instance method from Object”. This is because it’s not allowed in java, since Object is the base class for all the classes and we can’t have one class level static method and another instance method with same signature.
5. We can use java interface static methods to remove utility classes such as Collections and move all of it’s static methods to the corresponding interface, that would be easy to find and use.

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1.4 Java Functional Interfaces

Before I conclude the post, I would like to provide a brief introduction to Functional interfaces. An interface with exactly one abstract method is known as Functional Interface.

A new annotation @FunctionalInterface has been introduced to mark an interface as Functional Interface. @FunctionalInterface annotation is a facility to avoid accidental addition of abstract methods in the functional interfaces. It’s optional but good practice to use it.

Functional interfaces are long awaited and much sought out feature of Java 8 because it enables us to use lambda expressions to instantiate them. A new package java.util.function with bunch of functional interfaces are added to provide target types for lambda expressions and method references. We will look into functional interfaces and lambda expressions in the future posts.

Resource Location:

1. Java 8 Interface Changes – static method, default method

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