Java final abstract class

Question

I have a quite simple question:

I want to have a Java Class, which provides one public static method, which does something. This is just for encapsulating purposes (to h

Answer 1

Check this Reference Site..

Not possible. An abstract class without being inherited is of no use and hence will result in compile time error.

Thanks..

Answer 2

You can't get much simpler than using an enum with no instances.

public enum MyLib {;

   public static void myHelperMethod() { }
}

This class is final, with explicitly no instances and a private constructor.

This is detected by the compiler rather than as a runtime error. (unlike throwing an exception)

Answer 3

No, what you should do is create a private empty constructor that throws an exception in it's body. Java is an Object-Oriented language and a class that is never to be instantiated is itself a work-around! :)

final class MyLib{
    private MyLib(){
        throw new IllegalStateException( "Do not instantiate this class." );
    }

    // static methods go here

}

Answer 4

The suggestions of assylias (all Java versions) and Peter Lawrey (>= Java5) are the standard way to go in this case.

However I'd like to bring to your attention that preventing a extension of a static utility class is a very final decision that may come to haunt you later, when you find that you have related functionality in a different project and you'd in fact want to extend it.

I suggest the following:

public abstract MyClass {

    protected MyClass() {
    }

    abstract void noInstancesPlease();

    void myMethod() {
         ...
    }
    ... // More private methods and fields...

}

This goes against established practice since it allows extension of the class when needed, it still prevents accidental instantiation (you can't even create an anonymous subclass instance without getting a very clear compiler error).

It always pisses me that the JDK's utility classes (eg. java.util.Arrays) were in fact made final. If you want to have you own Arrays class with methods for lets say comparison, you can't, you have to make a separate class. This will distribute functionality that (IMO) belongs together and should be available through one class. That leaves you either with wildly distributed utility methods, or you'd have to duplicate every one of the methods to your own class.

I recommend to never make such utility classes final. The advantages do not outweight the disadvantages in my opinion.

Answer 5

This is very simple explanation in plain English.An abstract class cannot be instantiated and can only be extended.A final class cannot be extended.Now if you create an abstract class as a final class, how do you think you're gonna ever use that class, and what is,in reality, the rationale to put yourself in such a trap in the first place?

Answer 6

Declare the constructor of the class to be private. That ensure noninstantiability and prevents subclassing.