Practical 09: Abstract Classes and Interfaces

If you look into the hierarchy of classes in Java, you may find that you are not able to create objects out of certain superclasses. This is often because having objects based on the structure of such superclasses don't make sense. In such cases like these, we often keep these classes (and sometimes some of their methods as well) as abstract.

Activity: Implementing an Abstract Class and Abstract Methods

Looking back at the program we just went through for the past two weeks, it is not very useful to have objects of just the Employee class. We can change it into an abstract class by adding the abstract keyword in the class declaration like as follows:

AcademicStaff.java
public abstract class AcademicStaff {
    private String fullName;
    private String id;
    private int qualificationLevel;

    // Constructor
    protected AcademicStaff(String fullName, String id, int qualificationLevel) {
        this.fullName = fullName;
        this.id = id;
        this.qualificationLevel;
    }

    /* ... */

    public double calculateSalary() {
        return 0;
    }
}

Here, we also modified the constructor declaration to use the protected keyword instead of the public keyword. It barely makes a difference for the time being, but it does ensure that it cannot be invoked unless from a linked subclass.

Note that in this class, the calculateSalary() method is also not useful. Apart from creating abstract classes, the abstract keyword can be used to create abstract methods as and when necessary.

AcademicStaff.java
protected abstract class AcademicStaff {
    private String fullName;
    private String id;
    private int qualificationLevel;

    // Constructor
    protected AcademicStaff(String fullName, String id, int qualificationLevel) {
        this.fullName = fullName;
        this.id = id;
        this.qualificationLevel;
    }

    /* ... */

    public abstract double calculateSalary();
}

Abstract methods can still be overridden by subclasses. However, the visibility modifier of such declarations cannot be more private than that implemented in the superclass. In this case, you are not allowed to override the calculateSalary() method with any other visibility modifier apart from public. However, if the declaration here in the superclass is protected for example, subclasses can use the same visibility modifier or use a less private one like public.

AcademicStaff.java
protected abstract class AcademicStaff {
    private String fullName;
    private String id;
    private int qualificationLevel;

    // Constructor
    protected AcademicStaff(String fullName, String id, int qualificationLevel) {
        this.fullName = fullName;
        this.id = id;
        this.qualificationLevel;
    }

    /* ... */

    protected abstract double calculateSalary();
}

Implementing a Simple Interface

Let's create an interface class named Manners. We will only implement it in the AcademicStaff class, but the methods introduced from the Manners interface will be reflected on the related subclasses. This interface will have one method called introduce(), but there is no restriction as to how many methods are introduced here.

Manners.java

public interface Manners {
    void introduce();
}

In order to introduce the use of this interface in the AcademicStaff class, introduce it using the implements keyword like as follows:

AcademicStaff.java
public class AcademicStaff implements Manners {
    /* ... */
}

Note

The usage of the implements keyword can be used alongside the extends keyword, should an interface ever need to be implemented on a subclass.

When implementing an interface, one would require the method to be implemented. In the AcademicStaff class, assume that the introduce() prints out a greeting statement.

AcademicStaff.java
public class AcademicStaff implements Manners {
    /* ... */

    public void introduce() {
        System.out.println("Hi, I'm " + fullName + "!");
    }
}

Optional Activity

How would you implement this interface in the subclasses should you want the introduce() method to act differently based on which subclass it is being called from?

Task

In this practical task, you will build simple programs using abstract classes. You will also learn how to add polymorphic behavior to the program using abstract methods.

Product.java

The skeleton code for Product.java is given below. The Product class is an abstract class that has an abstract method called computeSalePrice().

Product.java
// Product class is now an abstract class
public abstract class Product {
    private double regularPrice;

    // Creates a new instance of Product
    public Product(double regularPrice) {
        this.regularPrice = regularPrice;
    }

    // computeSalesPrice() is now an abstract method
    public abstract double computeSalePrice();

    public double getRegularPrice() { return regularPrice; }

    public void setRegularPrice(double regularPrice) {
        this.regularPrice = regularPrice;
    }
}

Electronics.java

The Electronics class itself is an abstract class because it does not provide implementation of the computeSalePrice() abstract method.

Electronics.java
/**
 * Electronics class is now an abstract class because it does not provide
 * implementation of the computeSalePrice() abstract method.
 */
public abstract class Electronics extends Product {
    private String manufacturer;

    // Creates a new instance of Electronics
    public Electronics(double regularPrice, String manufacturer) {
        super(regularPrice);
        this.manufacturer = manufacturer;
    }

    public String getManufacturer() { return manufacturer; }

    public void setManufacturer(String manufacturer) {
        this.manufacturer = manufacturer;
    }
}

Write MP3Player.java. The MP3Player class extends the Electronics class. The MP3Player class should implement the computeSalePrice() method with the following statement:
```
return super.getRegularPrice() * 0.9;
```
Note: In addition to the implementation of the abstract method, you might also need to include a constructor or instance variable.
Write TV.java. The TV class extends the Electronics abstract class. The TV class should also implement the computeSalePrice() method, but with the following statement:
```
return super.getRegularPrice() * 0.8;
```
Note: In addition to the implementation of the abstract method, you might also need to include a constructor or instance variable.

Complete Book.java. The Book class extends the Product class. The Book class should also implement the computeSalePrice() method, but with the following statement:

return super.getRegularPrice() * 0.5;

You may continue with the given code for Book.java as follows:

Book.java
public class Book extends Product {
    private String publisher;
    private int yearPublished;

    // Creates a new instance of Book
    public Book(double regularPrice, String publisher,
                            int yearPublished) {
        super(regularPrice);

    }

    // Implement abstract method here

    public String getPublisher() { return publisher; }

    public void setPublisher(String publisher) {
        this.publisher = publisher;
    }

    public int getYearPublished() { return yearPublished; }

    public void setYearPublished(int yearPublished) {
        this.yearPublished = yearPublished;
    }
}

Run Main.java.

Main.java
public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Declare and create Product array of size 5
        Product[] pa = new Product[5];

        /**
          * Create object instances and assign them to
          * the type of Product.
          */
        pa[0] = new TV(1000, "Samsung", 30);
        pa[1] = new TV(2000, "Sony", 50);
        pa[2] = new MP3Player(250, "Apple", "blue");
        pa[3] = new Book(34, "Sun Press", 1992);
        pa[4] = new Book(15, "Korea Press", 1986);

        // Compute total regular price and total sale price
        double totalRegularPrice = 0;
        double totalSalePrice = 0;

        for(int i = 0; i < pa.length; i++) {
            /**
              * Call a method of the superclass to get
              * the regular price.
              */
            totalRegularPrice += pa[i].getRegularPrice();

            /**
              * Since the sale price is computed differently
              * depending on the product type, overriding
              * (implementation) method of the object instance
              * of the subclass gets invoked. This is runtime
              * polymorphic behavior.
              */
            totalSalePrice += pa[i].computeSalePrice();

            System.out.println("Item number " + i
                + ": Type = " + pa[i].getClass().getName()
                + ", Regular price = " + pa[i].getRegularPrice()
                + ", Sale price = " + pa[i].computeSalePrice());
        }
        System.out.println("totalRegularPrice = "
            + totalRegularPrice);
        System.out.println("totalSalePrice = " + totalSalePrice);
    }
}

You should observe the following output results:

Item number 0: Type = myonlineshop.TV, Regular price = 1000.0, Sale price = 800.0
Item number 1: Type = myonlineshop.TV, Regular price = 2000.0, Sale price = 1600.0
Item number 2: Type = myonlineshop.MP3Player, Regular price = 250.0, Sale price = 225.0
Item number 3: Type = myonlineshop.Book, Regular price = 34.0, Sale price = 17.0
Item number 4: Type = myonlineshop.Book, Regular price = 15.0, Sale price = 7.5
totalRegularPrice = 3299.0
totalSalePrice = 2649.5