Abstract Classes
Abstract classes are a fundamental object-oriented programming (OOP) concept that defines a base class with one or more abstract methods, which are declared but not implemented. They serve as blueprints for other classes, enforcing a common interface and structure that derived classes must implement. This promotes code reusability, consistency, and polymorphism in software design.
Developers should use abstract classes when designing systems that require a shared base structure with specific methods that subclasses must define, such as in frameworks, APIs, or when modeling real-world hierarchies like shapes or animals. They are particularly useful in large-scale applications to ensure adherence to design patterns and reduce code duplication, as seen in languages like Java, C#, and Python.