Default Interface Implementations. What is deep meaningful difference now, between abstract class and interface?

Question

I know that an abstract class is a special kind of class that cannot be instantiated. An abstract class is only to be sub-classed (inherited from). In other words, it only allows other classes to inherit from it but cannot be instantiated. The advantage is that it enforces certain hierarchies for all the subclasses. In simple words, it is a kind of contract that forces all the subclasses to carry on the same hierarchies or standards.

Also I know that An interface is not a class. It is an entity that is defined by the word Interface. An interface has no implementation; it only has the signature or in other words, just the definition of the methods without the body. As one of the similarities to Abstract class, it is a contract that is used to define hierarchies for all subclasses or it defines specific set of methods and their arguments. The main difference between them is that a class can implement more than one interface but can only inherit from one abstract class. Since C# doesn’t support multiple inheritance, interfaces are used to implement multiple inheritance.

When we create an interface, we are basically creating a set of methods without any implementation that must be overridden by the implemented classes. The advantage is that it provides a way for a class to be a part of two classes: one from inheritance hierarchy and one from the interface.

When we create an abstract class, we are creating a base class that might have one or more completed methods but at least one or more methods are left uncompleted and declared abstract. If all the methods of an abstract class are uncompleted then it is same as an interface.

BUT BUT BUT

I noticed that we will have Default Interface Methods in C# 8.0

Maybe I'm asking it because I have only 1-2 years of experience in programming, but what would be main difference between abstract class and interface now?

I know that we can't make state in interface, will it be only one difference between them?

Answer 1

There is not a lot of difference between the two apart from the obvious fact that abstract classes can have state and interfaces cannot. Default methods or also known as virtual extension methods have actually been available in Java for a while. The main drive for default methods is interface evolution which means being able to add methods to an interface in future versions without breaking source or binary compatibility with existing implementations of that interface.

another couple of good points mentioned by this post:

• The feature enables C# to interoperate with APIs targeting Android (Java) and iOs (Swift), which support similar features.
• As it turns out, adding default interface implementations provides the elements of the "traits" language feature (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trait_(computer_programming)). Traits have proven to be a powerful programming technique (http://scg.unibe.ch/archive/papers/Scha03aTraits.pdf).

Answer 2

Another thing which still makes the interface unique is covariance / contravariance.

To be honest, never found myself in situation where a default impl. in interface was the solution. I am a bit sceptical about it.

Answer 3

The only main difference coming to my mind is that you can still overload the default constructor for abstract classes which interfaces will never have.

abstract class LivingEntity
{
    public int Health
    {
        get;
        protected set;
    }


    protected LivingEntity(int health)
    {
        this.Health = health;
    }
}

class Person : LivingEntity
{
    public Person() : base(100)
    { }
}

class Dog : LivingEntity
{
    public Dog() : base(50)
    { }
}