Introduction to Abstraction in Python
When it comes to coding in Python, abstraction is an essential concept that every developer should understand. It helps in creating clean, maintainable, and scalable code that can easily be modified and expanded upon without compromising the functionality of the system.
In this article, we will cover the basics of abstraction, abstract classes, and methods in Python.
Definition of Abstraction
Abstraction is a process of hiding internal implementations by providing essential details about a process, method, or system to the end-user. It simplifies complex systems by offering an easy-to-use interface without exposing its underlying complexities.
Abstraction is widely used in real-life situations and in programming.
For example, let’s take a car, which is a complex system with many different components working together.
When you drive a car, you don’t need to know how the transmission works or what kind of tires are being used. All you need to know is how to operate the car by pressing the accelerator, brake, and steering wheel.
In programming, abstraction is used to simplify the complexity of code by encapsulating functionality into easy-to-use classes or functions. This helps the developers to focus on the core functionality of the software and not worry about the complexities of implementation at the same time.
Abstraction in Real-Life and Programming
Abstraction can be seen everywhere in real-life situations, such as driving a car, using a smartphone, or even using a coffee machine. These devices offer an easy-to-use interface that abstracts away the underlying system’s complexity, making it more user-friendly.
In programming, abstraction is a critical concept in Object-Oriented Programming (OOP). OOP is a programming paradigm that organizes software into classes and objects that interact with one another to solve a problem.
OOP is a way of organizing software that makes it easier to manage and maintain.
Abstract Classes and Methods in Python
Abstract classes and methods are fundamental concepts in Python’s Object-Oriented Programming that allow developers to create abstract classes with abstract methods. Abstract classes can’t be instantiated, meaning you can’t create objects from them.
Instead, they are meant to be extended by other classes that implement their abstract methods.
Declaration of Abstract Class
In Python, abstract classes are defined using the “abc” module, which stands for Abstract Base Class. This module provides the tools necessary to create and use abstract classes.
When creating an abstract class, use the “ABC” class as the base class, like this:
from abc import ABC
class MyClass(ABC):
pass
The “ABC” class is used to indicate that the class is an abstract class. If a class inherits from “ABC,” it’s considered an abstract class, and you can define abstract methods inside it.
Implementation of @abstractmethod
You can define an abstract method inside an abstract class using the “@abstractmethod” decorator. This decorator tells Python that the method is abstract and must be implemented by any class that extends the abstract base class.
Here is an example that shows how to create an abstract method in an abstract class:
from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
class MyClass(ABC):
@abstractmethod
def my_abstract_method(self):
pass
The “abstractmethod” decorator tells Python that the “my_abstract_method” is abstract. Any subclass that inherits from “MyClass” must define “my_abstract_method” to avoid getting a TypeError.
Normal methods can also be used in an abstract class alongside abstract methods. These methods are not intended to be overridden by child classes.
Conclusion
Abstraction is an essential concept in Python programming that helps in making complex systems and processes more manageable and user-friendly. Abstract classes and methods enable developers to organize code into classes and objects, making it easier to maintain and extend the functionality of the system.
By understanding the fundamentals of abstraction and abstract classes in Python, you can start building more maintainable and scalable software.
Python Abstraction Example
Abstraction is a fundamental concept in Python programming that helps in simplifying complex systems and processes by hiding their underlying complexity. In Python, abstraction is implemented using abstract classes and methods, which are essential for creating clean, maintainable and scalable code.
In this article, we are going to explore an example of abstraction in Python.
Absclass and Inheritance
One of the primary ways of implementing abstraction in Python is through abstract classes and inheritance. Abstract classes are classes that can’t be instantiated, meaning you can’t create objects from them.
Instead, they are meant to be extended by other classes that implement their abstract methods. In Python, abstract classes are defined using the “ABC” class in the abc module, like this:
from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
class Absclass(ABC):
@abstractmethod
def task(self):
pass
In this example, we define an abstract class, Absclass, with a single abstract method called “task.” To create an abstract method, we use the “@abstractmethod” decorator, which tells Python that any subclass that extends the Absclass must implement the “task” method. Now we can create a class, which inherits from the Absclass and implements its abstract method.
Here is an example:
class example_class(Absclass):
def task(self):
print("Task in example class is being executed...")
In this example, we create a new class, example_class, which inherits from Absclass. We override the abstract method “task” in example_class by providing the implementation.
In this case, we define the method to print a message indicating that the task in the example_class is being executed. Now that we have implemented the abstract method, we can test it using the test_class, which is a client code that will invoke the method.
class test_class:
def __init__(self):
self.test_obj = None
self.example_obj = None
def set_obj(self, obj):
self.test_obj = obj
def set_example_obj(self, obj):
self.example_obj = obj
def perform_task(self):
self.test_obj.task()
def perform_example_task(self):
self.example_obj.task()
test = test_class()
test.set_obj(Absclass()) # TypeError as we cannot instantiate Absclass
test.set_obj(example_class())
test.perform_task() # This will execute the task method in example_class
test.perform_example_task()
In the above example, we create a client code that will test our implementation. We create an instance of the test_class and set the test_obj and example_obj attributes to our classes.
We also define two methods that will execute the task method in our objects. When we call “perform_task,” it will execute the task from the example_class object, which we set on the test_obj, and since the task is implemented in the example_class, the message “Task in example class is being executed…” will be printed to the console.
Invoking of Print Method
When we call the “perform_example_task” method, it will execute the task method from the example_class, since we assigned it to the example_obj attribute.
When we run the “test.perform_example_task()” method, the “Task in example class is being executed…” message will be printed to the console.
If we had not provided an implementation for the task method in example_class, we would have received a TypeError. In conclusion, abstraction is an essential concept in Python, as it helps in simplifying complex systems and making them more manageable.
Abstraction is implemented using abstract classes and methods, and the “@abstractmethod” decorator is used to define abstract methods in Python. By using inheritance and implementing abstract methods in child classes, we can create clean, maintainable, and scalable code.
The example above shows how abstraction and abstract classes work in Python and demonstrates how to implement them in real-world situations. In conclusion, abstraction is a critical concept in Python programming that helps in simplifying complex systems by hiding their underlying complexity.
Abstraction is implemented using abstract classes and methods, allowing programmers to create clean, maintainable, and scalable code. The use of abstract classes and methods provides an easy-to-use interface to users, promoting ease of use.
Through the implementation of inheritance and abstract methods in child classes, abstraction is an integral part of Python’s Object-Oriented Programming paradigm that every developer should familiarize themselves with. Ultimately, understanding the principles of abstraction in Python is essential for creating efficient and well-organized software that can be easily modified and expanded upon.