Why can abstract methods only be declared in abstract classes?

java abstract-class abstract abstract-methods
Jona picture Jona · Mar 4, 2014 · Viewed 22.5k times · Source

I understand that in abstract classes methods be both abstract, or not. But why can I not create an abstract method in a "normal", non-abstract class?

Thanks in advance for any explanation!

Answer

Warlord picture Warlord · Mar 4, 2014

Abstract method basically says, that there is no implementation of the method and it needs to be implemented in a subclass. However if you had an abstract method in a non-abstract class, you could instantiate the class and get an object, that would have an unimplemented method, which you would be unable to call.

Related questions

why do we need abstract classes in Java?

Why do we need abstract classes in Java? If you're never going to make it into an object, why have it in the first place? How do you use it? Why is it there? I'm wondering the same thing with …

Read More
Should an abstract class have at least one abstract method?

Is it necessary for an abstract class to have at least one abstract method?

Read More
Use of an abstract class without any abstract methods

An abstract class need not include any abstract methods. Is there any other reason to make a class abstract other than the fact that abstract classes can't be instantiated?

Read More