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Abstract method is one with only a method signature and no implementation body. It is often used to specify that a subclass must provide an implementation of the method. Abstract methods are used to specify interfaces in some computer languages.((Title: Abstract Methods and Classes, https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/IandI/abstract.html, [[Publisher: Oracle Java Documentation, Access date: 11 December 2014))
A method in object-oriented programming (OOP) is a procedure associated with an object, and generally also a message. An object consists of state data and behavior; these compose an interface, which specifies how the object may be used. A method is a behavior of an object parametrized by a user.
Data is represented as properties of the object, and behaviors are represented as methods. For example, a
Window
object could have methods such asopen
andclose
, while its state (whether it is open or closed at any given point in time) would be a property.In class-based programming, methods are defined within a class, and objects are instances of a given class. One of the most important capabilities that a method provides is method overriding - the same name (e.g.,
area
) can be used for multiple different kinds of classes. This allows the sending objects to invoke behaviors and to delegate the implementation of those behaviors to the receiving object. A method in Java programming sets the behavior of a class object. For example, an object can send anarea
message to another object and the appropriate formula is invoked whether the receiving object is arectangle
,circle
,triangle
, etc.Methods also provide the interface that other classes use to access and modify the properties of an object; this is known as encapsulation. Encapsulation and overriding are the two primary distinguishing features between methods and procedure calls.