• Purpose:
  • Provide a view of a set of services provided by a class
  • Represent a "contract"
• Example:
  • Sortable
  • 
• Note:
  • This is a somewhat different use of the term (as in Java)

• Syntax:
  • accessibility interface name { [variables]... [methods]... }
• File Name:
  • The name of the file containing an interface must be exactly the same as the name of the interface (with .java appended).

javaexamples/oopbasics/emergency2/Prioritized.java

/**
 * The requirements of Prioritized objects
 *
 * @author  Prof. David Bernstein, James Madison University
 * @version 1.0
 */
public interface Prioritized
{

    /**
     * Return the priority of this Object.
     *
     * @return  The priority
     */
    public abstract int getPriority();
}
        

javaexamples/oopbasics/emergency2/EmergencyMessage.java

/**
 * A message containing emergency information.
 *
 * This version implements the Prioritized interface.
 * 
 * @author  Prof. David Bernstein, James Madison University
 * @version 2.0
 */
public class EmergencyMessage implements Prioritized
{
    private int        priority;   // Note: These attributes are private
    private String     message;    //       not protected.


    /**
     * Explicit Value Constructor.
     *
     * @param message   The text of the mesage
     */
    public EmergencyMessage(String message)
    {
        this.message = message;
    }

    /**
     * Return the text of this message.
     *
     * @return   The text of the message
     */
    public String getMessage()
    {
        return message;
    }

    /**
     * Return the priority of this message (required by Prioritized).
     *
     * @return   The priority of the message
     */
    public int getPriority()
    {
        return priority;
    }

    /**
     * Set the priority of this message.
     *
     * @param priority   The priority of the message
     */
    public void setPriority(int priority)
    {
        if      (priority <  0) this.priority =  0;
        else if (priority > 10) this.priority = 10;
        else                    this.priority = priority;
    }
}






        

javaexamples/oopbasics/emergency2/Alert.java

/**
 * A message containing normal emergency information and a
 * supplemental alert.
 *
 * @author  Prof. David Bernstein, James Madison University
 * @version 1.0
 */
public class Alert extends EmergencyMessage
{
    private String supplement;


    /**
     * Explicit Value Constructor.
     *
     * @param message      The main mesage
     * @param supplement   The supplemental information
     */
    public Alert(String message, String supplement)
    {
        super(message);
        this.supplement = supplement;
    }

    /**
     * Return the supplemental information.
     *
     * @return   The supplemental information
     */
    public String getSupplement()
    {
        return supplement;
    }
}


        

javaexamples/oopbasics/emergency2/AccidentReport.java

/**
 * An accident report
 *
 * @author  Prof. David Bernstein, James Madison University
 * @version 1.0
 */
public class AccidentReport implements Prioritized
{
    private int     size;
    private String  type;


    /**
     * Explicit Value Constructor.
     *
     * @param type   The type of accident
     * @param size   The number of vehicles involved
     */
    public AccidentReport(String type, int size)
    {
        this.type = type;
        this.size = size;
    }

    /**
     * Return the priority of this AccidentReport (required by
     * Prioritized).
     *
     * @return   The priority of this AccidentReport
     */
    public int getPriority()
    {
        int priority;


        if (size > 3) priority = 5;
        else if (size > 5) priority = 10;
        else if (type.equals("HEAD ON")) priority = 8;
        else priority = 3;

        return priority;
    }

    /**
     * Set the size of the accident.
     *
     * @param size   The number of vehicles involved
     */
    public void setSize(int size)
    {
        this.size = size;
    }
}
        

javaexamples/oopbasics/emergency2/Driver.java

/**
 * An example that uses interfaces and derived classes
 *
 * @version 1.0
 * @author  Prof. David Bernstein, James Madison University
 */
public class Driver
{

    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        AccidentReport       accident1, accident2;
        int                  k;
        Prioritized[]        priorities;
        Alert                alert;
        EmergencyMessage     message;
        


        priorities = new Prioritized[4];

        message = new EmergencyMessage("Congestion on I81 north!");
        priorities[0] = message;

        alert = new Alert("Route 11 Closed in Both Directions",
                          "Use I81 Instead");
        alert.setPriority(4);
        priorities[1] = alert;


        accident1 = new AccidentReport("FENDER BENDER", 2);
        priorities[2] = accident1;

        accident2 = new AccidentReport("HEAD ON", 2);
        priorities[3] = accident2;


        k = countHighPriorityItems(priorities);
        System.out.println("\n\n\n");
        if (k == 1) 
        {
          System.out.println("1 item is crucial!");

        } else {

          System.out.println(k+" items are crucial!");
        }


        accident1.setSize(4);
        k = countHighPriorityItems(priorities);
        System.out.println("\n\n\n");
        if (k == 1) 
        {
          System.out.println("1 item is crucial!");

        } else {

          System.out.println(k+" items are crucial!");
        }



    }


    /**
     * Determine the number of high priorty items
     */
    public static int countHighPriorityItems(
                           Prioritized[] items)
    {
        int i, count;

        count = 0;
        for (i=0; i < items.length; i++) 
        {
            if (items[i].getPriority() >= 5) count++;
        }
        return count;
    }
}
        

• Definition:
  • A class that cannot be instantiated (because it does not implement all of its methods)

    

• Rationale:
  • Many child classes may require the functionality included in the abstract class

• Syntax:
  • accessibility abstract class name { [variables]... [methods]... }
• File Name:
  • The name of the file containing an abstract class must be exactly the same as the name of the abstract class (with .java appended).
• Abstract Methods:
  • The methods that must be implemented by "concrete" derived classes also use the abstract keyword (and have an empty body).

javaexamples/abstracts/AbstractContent.java

package abstracts;

import java.util.*;

/**
 * An abstract "piece of" content that will be extended 
 * to create concrete media (e.g., Image, VideoClip)
 *
 * @version 1.0
 * @author  Prof. David Bernstein, James Madison University
 */
public abstract class AbstractContent
{
    private Date   creationDate;
    private String author, title;



    /**
     *  "Constructs" a new AbstractContent
     *  (Note: This method should be called by the 
     *  constructor of all child classes)
     */
    public AbstractContent()
    {
        creationDate = new Date();
    }

    /**
     * Returns the author of this AbstractContent
     */
    public String getAuthor()
    {
        return author;
    }

    /**
     * Returns the creation date
     */
    public Date getCreationDate()
    {
        return creationDate;
    }

    /**
     * Returns the title of this AbstractContent
     */
    public String getTitle()
    {
        return title;
    }


    /**
     *  Show/play/render this AbstractContent
     */
    public abstract void show();


    /**
     * Sets the author of this AbstractContent
     */
    public void setAuthor(String author)
    {
        this.author = author;
    }


    /**
     * Sets the title of this AbstractContent
     */
    public void setTitle(String title)
    {
        this.title = title;
    }
}