when to use abstract class and interface in c# code example

Example 1: where do you use abstraction in your project

I used in defining a common super class while writing POM layer of the framework
We usually create an abstract class named
BasePage to have all common members for every page written
in this class like getPageTitle().
Then each Page class (HomePage, LoginPage, DashboardPage
etc.) inherit from BasePage.
Sometimes one may need to change the behavior of methods
implemented in superclass. So, subclass has freedom to
override that method where we use polymorphism.
This is how we use Abstract class in real projects

Example 2: c# abstract class

abstract class Shape
{
    public abstract int GetArea();
}

class Square : Shape
{
    int side;

    public Square(int n) => side = n;

    // GetArea method is required to avoid a compile-time error.
    public override int GetArea() => side * side;

    static void Main() 
    {
        var sq = new Square(12);
        Console.WriteLine($"Area of the square = {sq.GetArea()}");
    }
}
// Output: Area of the square = 144

Example 3: what is abstract class in c#

Abstract class: is a restricted class that cannot be used to create objects 
(to access it, it must be inherited from another class).

Example 4: c# abstract class and interfaces

// ------------------- ABSTRACT vs INTERFACES ------------------------ //
// Both are used to define the architecture of the application


// ---------- ABSTRACT CLASS --------- //
// -> The methods can have an implementation (be defined)
// -> It's elements are private by default
// -> It can contain fields
// -> It can inherit from another abstract class or interface 
// -> It can have abstract and non-abstract methods. The abstract classes have to be implemented in the child class. 

public abstract class AbsParent { 
  
  	private int count = 0;
  
    public void foo1()    
    {
    	Console.WriteLine("Hi there, I'm a normal method that will be inherited!");
    }
  
    public abstract void foo2();  // You can't have an implementation for this abstract method 
  
    public virtual void foo3()    
    {
    	Console.WriteLine("Hi there, I'm a virtual method!");
    }  
} 


// --------- INTERFACES --------- //
// -> It's not a class, it's an entity
// -> The methods can't have an implementation
// -> It's elements are public by default and can't have acesso modifiers 
// -> It can't contain fields like for example, "private int count", but it can contain properties 
// -> It can only inherit from another interface 
// -> A class can inherit from multiple interfaces
// -> A class inheriting from an interface, has to implement all it's methods 

public interface IParent { 
  
  string myProterty{get; set;} 
  
  void foo1(); // You can't have an implementation for these methods
  void foo2(); 
  
} 



// -------- INHERITANCES --------- // 

// class 'AbsParent' inherit in child class 'Child1' 
public class Child1 : AbsParent { 
  
    public override void foo2()    // The implementation of the AbsParent abstract methods is mandatory 
    { 
        Console.WriteLine("Only in the child/derived class, can I be defined!"); 
    } 
    
  
  	public override void foo3() 
    { 
        Console.WriteLine("Class name is Child1"); 
    } 
} 
  

// class 'IParent' inherit in another child class 'Child2' 
public class Child2 : IParent { 
 
    public void foo1()    // The implementation of all the IParent methods is mandatory 
    { 
        Console.WriteLine("Only in the child/derived class, can I be defined!"); 
    } 
    
  
  	public void foo2() 
    { 
        Console.WriteLine("Only in the child/derived class, can I be defined!"); 
    } 

} 



// ---------- MAIN --------- //
public class main_method { 
  
    // Main Method 
    public static void Main() 
    { 
        AbsParent obj = new AbsParent();  // ERROR!! You can't create an object of an abstract class
                                          // it is used only for inheritance purposes. The same logic 
                                          // goes to interfaces.
    } 
}