Topics

• Interfaces in Java

1 Object-Oriented Programming Using Java

 Interfaces in Java

• Java does not support Multiple-Inheritance directly. Multiple inheritance can be

achieved in java by the use of Interfaces.
• We need interfaces when we want functionality to be included but does not want
to impose implementation.
• Implementation issue is left to the individual classes implementing the interfaces.
• Interfaces can have only abstract methods and final fields.
• Every method in an interface is by default public abstract
• Every variable in an interface is by default public final
• You can declare a variable to be of type interface. But you can not create an
object belonging to type interface.
• Interface variable can point to objects of any class implementing the interface.
• Another way of implementing Run Time Polymorphism.
2 Object-Oriented Programming Using Java
 Class vs Interfaces
(Similarities)
• is compiled into byte code file
• can be either public, protected, private or package
accessibility
• can not be public unless defined in the file having same
name as interface name
• serve as a type for declaring variables and parameters

3 Object-Oriented Programming Using Java

 Class vs Interfaces
(Differences)
• Declares only Method Headers and public constants
• Has no constructors [So, an object never belongs to an
interface].
• Can be implemented by a class. A class can implement
multiple interfaces.
• Can not extend a class.
• Can extend several other interfaces.

4 Object-Oriented Programming Using Java

 Interface Syntax : General Form

• Syntax :
<scope> interface <interface-name> extends [ <interface1> ,… ,<interface-N>]
{

[public][final] <type> variable-name-1 = value;

.
.
[public][final] <type> variable-name-N = value;

[public][abstract] <return type> method-name-1(<parameter lis>);

.
.
[public][abstract] <return type> method-name-N(<parameter lis>);
}

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 Interface Example 1

public interface A Name of source file must be A.java

{
double PI = 3.14156; public final PI = 3.1456;
void show(); public abstract void show();
void display(); public abstract void display();
} // End of Interface A
class X implements A
{
public void show() { } Implemented Methods of
Interfaces should have
public void display() { }
public scope
}// End of class X
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 Interface Example 2
public interface A
{
double PI = 3.14156;
void show();
void display();
} // End of Interface A
abstract class X implements A
A class should either fully
{ implement an interface or it
public void show() { } should be declared as
} abstract
class Y extends X
{
public void display() { }
}// End of class X

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 Interface Example 3
interface A
{ An interface can extend
void show-1(); multiple interfaces
void display-1();
class X implements C
} // End of Interface A {
interface B void show-1() {}
{ void display-1() {}
void show-2(); void show-2() {}
void display-2(); void display-2() {}
void show-3() {}
} // End of Interface B void display-3() {}
interface C extends A, B } // End of class X
{
void show-3(); If a class implements a sub-interface
void display-3(); then it also implements its super
} // End of Interface C interfaces
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 Interface Example 4

interface Area <<Interface>>

{
Area
double PI = 3.1456;
double area();
double perimeter();
} // End of Interface Area
interface Volume extends Area Volume
{
<<Interface>>
double volume();
} // End of Interface Volume

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 Interface Example 4 ….
class Circle implements Area
{
private double radius;
Circle(double radius)
{
this.radius = radius;
}
double getRadius() { return radius;}
public double area()
{
return PI * radius * radius;
}
public double perimeter()
{
return 2 * PI * radius;
}
}// End of class Circle
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 Interface Example 4 ….
class BOX implements Volume public double volume()
{ {
private double length; return length * width * height ;
private double width; } // End of Method
private double height; public double perimeter()
BOX(double l, double b, double h) {
{ double p = length+width+height;
length = l;
return 4 * p;
width = b;
}// End of Method
height = h;
} // End of class BOX
}
double getLength() { return length ;}
double getWidth() { return width ;}
double getHeight() { return height ;}
public double area()
{
return 2 * (length * width + width * height + height * length);
} // End of Method
11 Object-Oriented Programming Using Java
 Runtime Polymorphism
Through Interfaces
• Suppose ‘X’ is an interface and three concrete classes namely ‘A’,
‘B’, and ‘C’ implements ‘X’ interface

Any Interface Type Variable Can Point

to Any Instance of a Class That
Implements the Interface

X x1 = new A();
x1.show(); Invokes show()
of class A

x1 = new B();
Invokes show()
x1.show();
of class B

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 Thank You

13 Object-Oriented Programming Using Java