Abstract Class in C#

Learn what abstract classes are in C#, how to define them, and when to use them in your designs.

What is an Abstract Class?

An abstract class is a class that cannot be instantiated on its own and is meant to serve as a base for other classes to inherit from.

Abstract Methods

An abstract class can declare abstract methods, which have no implementation and must be overridden by any non-abstract derived class.

Abstract vs Interface

Unlike an interface, an abstract class can contain fields and fully implemented methods alongside abstract ones, offering a mix of shared and required-to-implement behavior.

When to Use an Abstract Class

Use an abstract class when several related classes share common implementation but also need to enforce that certain methods are implemented differently by each derived class.