Interface in Java
An interface in java is a blueprint of a class. It has static constants and
abstract methods.
The interface in java is a mechanism to achieve abstraction. There can be
only abstract methods in the java interface not method body. It is used to
achieve abstraction and multiple inheritance in Java.
Java Interface also represents IS-A relationship.
It cannot be instantiated just like abstract class.
Why use Java interface?
There are mainly three reasons to use interface. They are given below.
o It is used to achieve abstraction.
o By interface, we can support the functionality of multiple inheritances.
o It can be used to achieve loose coupling.
Java 8 Interface Improvement
Since Java 8, interface can have default and static methods which are discussed
later.
Internal addition by compiler
The java compiler adds public and abstract keywords before the interface
method. More, it adds public, static and final keywords before data members.
In other words, Interface fields are public, static and final by default, and
methods are public and abstract.
Understanding relationship between classes
and interfaces
As shown in the figure given below, a class extends another class, an interface
extends another interface but a class implements an interface.
Java Interface Example
In this example, Printable interface has only one method, its implementation is
provided in the A class.
1. interface printable{
2. void print();
3. }
4. class A6 implements printable{
5. public void print(){System.out.println("Hello");}
6.
7. public static void main(String args[]){
8. A6 obj = new A6();
9. obj.print();
10. }
11. }
Test it Now
Output:
Hello
Java Interface Example: Drawable
In this example, Drawable interface has only one method. Its implementation is
provided by Rectangle and Circle classes. In real scenario, interface is defined
by someone but implementation is provided by different implementation
providers. And, it is used by someone else. The implementation part is hidden
by the user which uses the interface.
File: TestInterface1.java
1. //Interface declaration: by first user
2. interface Drawable{
3. void draw();
4. }
5. //Implementation: by second user
6. class Rectangle implements Drawable{
7. public void draw(){System.out.println("drawing rectangle");}
8. }
9. class Circle implements Drawable{
10. public void draw(){System.out.println("drawing circle");}
11. }
12. //Using interface: by third user
13. class TestInterface1{
14. public static void main(String args[]){
15. Drawable d=new Circle();//In real scenario, object is provided by method
e.g. getDrawable()
16. d.draw();
17. }}
Test it Now
Output:
drawing circle
Java Interface Example: Bank
Let's see another example of java interface which provides the implementation
of Bank interface.
File: TestInterface2.java
1. interface Bank{
2. float rateOfInterest();
3. }
4. class SBI implements Bank{
5. public float rateOfInterest(){return 9.15f;}
6. }
7. class PNB implements Bank{
8. public float rateOfInterest(){return 9.7f;}
9. }
10. class TestInterface2{
11. public static void main(String[] args){
12. Bank b=new SBI();
13. System.out.println("ROI: "+b.rateOfInterest());
14. }}
Test it Now
Output:
ROI: 9.15
Multiple inheritance in Java by interface
If a class implements multiple interfaces, or an interface extends multiple
interfaces i.e. known as multiple inheritance.
1. interface Printable{
2. void print();
3. }
4. interface Showable{
5. void show();
6. }
7. class A7 implements Printable,Showable{
8. public void print(){System.out.println("Hello");}
9. public void show(){System.out.println("Welcome");}
10.
11. public static void main(String args[]){
12. A7 obj = new A7();
13. obj.print();
14. obj.show();
15. }
16. }
Test it Now
Output:Hello
Welcome
Interface inheritance
A class implements interface but one interface extends another interface .
1. interface Printable{
2. void print();
3. }
4. interface Showable extends Printable{
5. void show();
6. }
7. class TestInterface4 implements Showable{
8. public void print(){System.out.println("Hello");}
9. public void show(){System.out.println("Welcome");}
10.
11. public static void main(String args[]){
12. TestInterface4 obj = new TestInterface4();
13. obj.print();
14. obj.show();
15. }
16. }
Test it Now
Output:
Hello
Welcome
Java 8 Default Method in Interface
Since Java 8, we can have method body in interface. But we need to make it
default method. Let's see an example:
File: TestInterfaceDefault.java
1. interface Drawable{
2. void draw();
3. default void msg(){System.out.println("default method");}
4. }
5. class Rectangle implements Drawable{
6. public void draw(){System.out.println("drawing rectangle");}
7. }
8. class TestInterfaceDefault{
9. public static void main(String args[]){
10. Drawable d=new Rectangle();
11. d.draw();
12. d.msg();
13. }}
Test it Now
Output:
drawing rectangle
default method
Java 8 Static Method in Interface
Since Java 8, we can have static method in interface. Let's see an example:
File: TestInterfaceStatic.java
1. interface Drawable{
2. void draw();
3. static int cube(int x){return x*x*x;}
4. }
5. class Rectangle implements Drawable{
6. public void draw(){System.out.println("drawing rectangle");}
7. }
8.
9. class TestInterfaceStatic{
10. public static void main(String args[]){
11. Drawable d=new Rectangle();
12. d.draw();
13. System.out.println(Drawable.cube(3));
14. }}
Test it Now
Output:
drawing rectangle
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Nested Interface in Java
Note: An interface can have another interface i.e. known as nested interface. We
will learn it in detail in the nested classes chapter. For example:
1. interface printable{
2. void print();
3. interface MessagePrintable{
4. void msg();
5. }
6. }
