abstract class

<programming>

In object-oriented programming, a class designed only as a parent from which sub-classes may be derived, but which is not itself suitable for instantiation. Often used to "abstract out" incomplete sets of features which may then be shared by a group of sibling sub-classes which add different variations of the missing pieces.

Last updated: 1994-11-08

Nearby terms:

abstractabstract classabstract data typeabstract interpretation

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