Abstract classes and its characteristics

Question

Explain abstract classes and List the different characteristics of an abstract class?

Answer 1

An Abstract class is a class that is not instantiated and is always used as a base class.

The characteristics of an abstract class are:

a) An abstract class cannot be directly instantiated. This suggests that you cannot create an object of the abstract class; it must be inherited.
b) Abstract as well as non-abstract members can be there in an abstract class.
c)At least one abstract method should be declared in the abstract class.
d) An abstract class is always public.
e) It is declared using “abstract” keyword.

The main purpose of an abstract class is to provide a common definition of base class that can be shared by the multiple derived classes.