Abstract classes

In CPP


A class that contains at least one pure virtual function is said to be abstract. Because an
abstract class contains one or more functions for which there is no definition (that is, a
pure virtual function), no objects of an abstract class may be created. Instead, an
abstract class constitutes an incomplete type that is used as a foundation for derived
classes.
Although you cannot create objects of an abstract class, you can create pointers and
references to an abstract class. This allows abstract classes to support run-time
polymorphism, which relies upon base-class pointers and references to select the
proper virtual function.

JAVA