Abstraction is the final fundamental principle of object-oriented programming that allows for simplifying complex systems by hiding unnecessary details. This principle is used to promote a more intuitive understanding of the system and code reusability. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at abstraction and how it can be implemented in your code using a coding example.
The basic idea behind abstraction is to create a simplified interface that hides the complexity of the underlying implementation. This allows for a more intuitive understanding of the system and promotes code reusability, as the internal implementation can change without affecting the rest of the code.
There are two main ways to implement abstraction in your code: interfaces and abstract classes.
An interface defines a set of methods that must be implemented by any class that implements or inherits from it. For example, consider the following interface:
interface Shape {
public void draw();
}
In this example, any class that implements the Shape interface must provide an implementation for the draw method. This allows for a more intuitive understanding of the system, as it is clear that any class that implements the Shape interface should have the ability to be drawn.
An abstract class is a class that cannot be instantiated and is usually used as a base class for other classes. An abstract class can have both abstract and non-abstract methods. For example, consider the following abstract class:
abstract class Shape {
protected int x;
protected int y;
public Shape(int x, int y) {
this.x = x;
this.y = y;
}
public abstract void draw();
}
In this example, the Shape class is an abstract class and cannot be instantiated. It has two properties x and y and one abstract method draw. any class that extends the Shape class must provide an implementation for the draw method. This allows for code reusability, as the x and y properties can be used by any class that extends the Shape class without having to redefine them.
In conclusion, Abstraction is a powerful tool in object-oriented programming that allows for simplifying complex systems and promoting code reusability. By creating a simplified interface that hides the complexity of the underlying implementation, we can create more efficient and maintainable code. Understanding and implementing abstraction is essential for any developer looking to create high-quality software using object-oriented programming.
