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Understanding Abstract Base Classes in Python

An Abstract Base Class (ABC) in Python requires derived classes to implement specified abstract methods, preventing instantiation of the ABC itself. The document provides examples demonstrating the creation of an ABC and derived classes, highlighting the necessity of implementing all abstract methods to avoid TypeErrors. Additionally, it includes a practical example with an 'Animal' ABC and a 'Dog' class that implements the required method.

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80 views2 pages

Understanding Abstract Base Classes in Python

An Abstract Base Class (ABC) in Python requires derived classes to implement specified abstract methods, preventing instantiation of the ABC itself. The document provides examples demonstrating the creation of an ABC and derived classes, highlighting the necessity of implementing all abstract methods to avoid TypeErrors. Additionally, it includes a practical example with an 'Animal' ABC and a 'Dog' class that implements the required method.

Uploaded by

roy.scar2196
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

An Abstract Base Class or ABC mandates the derived classes to implement specific

methods from the base class.

It is not possible to create an object from a defined ABC class.

Creating objects of derived classes is possible only when derived classes override
existing functionality of all abstract methods defined in an ABC class.

ABC - Example
In Python, an Abstract Base Class can be created using module abc.
Example 1

from abc import ABC, abstractmethod


class Shape(ABC):
@abstractmethod
def area(self):
pass
@abstractmethod
def perimeter(self):
pass
In Example 1, Abstract base class Shape is defined with two abstract methods area
and perimeter.

ABC - Example...
Example 1...

With existing abstract class definition of Shape, if you try creating a Shape
object it results in TypeError.

s1 = Shape()

Output

TypeError: Can't instantiate abstract class Shape with abstract methods area,
perimeter

ABC - Example...
Example 1...

class Circle(Shape):
def __init__(self, radius):
self.__radius = radius
@staticmethod
def square(x):
return x**2
def area(self):
return 3.14*self.square(self.__radius)
c1 = Circle(3.9)
Creating object c1, with out definingperimeter inside derived class, Circle,
resulted in TypeError.
Output

TypeError: Can't instantiate abstract class Circle with abstract methods perimeter

ABC - Example...
Example 1...

Corrected class definition of Circle, that contains perimeter definition too.


class Circle(Shape):
def __init__(self, radius):
self.__radius = radius
@staticmethod
def square(x):
return x**2
def area(self):
return 3.14*self.square(self.__radius)
def perimeter(self):
return 2*3.14*self.__radius
c1 = Circle(3.9)
print(c1.area())
Output

47.7594

Q1
import inspect

from abc import ABC, abstractmethod

# Define the abstract class 'Animal' below


# with abstract method 'say'
class Animal(ABC):
@abstractmethod
def say(self):
pass

# Define class Dog derived from Animal


# Also define 'say' method inside 'Dog' class
class Dog(Animal):
def say(self):
return 'I speak Booooo'

if __name__ == '__main__':

if issubclass(Animal, ABC):
print("'Animal' is an abstract class" )

if '@abstractmethod' in inspect.getsource(Animal.say):
print("'say' is an abstract method")

if issubclass(Dog, Animal):
print("'Dog' is dervied from 'Animal' class" )

d1 = Dog()
print("Dog,'d1', says :", d1.say())

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