C# Abstract and Virtual Method – Inheritance Tutorial with Code

In this chapter you will learn

• What is Abstract Method?
• What is Virtual Method?
• How to use it in Inheritance?

What is Abstract and Virtual Method?

Abstract Method

Abstract methods are that type of method which is created only for signature only in base class. Means it is created in base class with abstract keyword but it has no body implementation. For example:

Abstract public void sum();

Point to be Noted

1. An abstract modifier can be used with classes, methods, properties, indexers and events.
2. If class contains abstract member then class must be created with abstract modifier. Example:  

   abstract class baseclass

   
   
3. An abstract class must be overridden using override keyword in child class. If you miss to override them, program will raise compile time error.

   public override void sum()

   
   
4. An abstract class cannot be instantiated. Means you cannot create object of abstract class with new keyword.
5. An abstract method has no method body. The method declaration ends with semi colon (;) and after that there is no curly braces ({}).

   public abstract void sum();

   
   

Programming Example

In this programming example there is an abstract method sum() in abstract class baseclass. In the child class this abstract method is overridden with override keyword.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

namespace Abstract_Method
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            childclass ch = new childclass();
            ch.sum();
            Console.ReadKey();
        }
    }
}

abstract class baseclass
{
    public int num = 5;
    public abstract void sum();   
}
class childclass : baseclass
{
    public override void sum()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Total Sum : " + num * num);
    }
}

Total Sum : 25

_

Virtual Method

There may be very long definition of Virutal Method but I kept it simple and short. A virtual method can be overridden or cannot be overridden by child class. It is upon programmer choice. It gives flexibility to direct use of virtual method or add additional functionality in it by overriding it.

Following example have a base class which has a virtual method message(). There is two child class is created. Child1 is overriding the virtual method and adding own message where child2 is displaying direct message of virtual method.

Programming Example

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

namespace Virtual_Methods
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            child1 ch1 = new child1();
            ch1.message();

            child2 ch2 = new child2();
            ch2.message();

            Console.ReadKey();
        }
    }
}
class baseclass
{
    public virtual void message()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("I am base class Virtual Method");
    }
}
class child1 : baseclass
{
    public override void message()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("I am child 1 class");
    }
}
class child2 : baseclass
{   
}

I am child 1 class

I am base class Virtual Method

_

Summary

In this chapter you learned abstract and virtual method of C#. It becomes very useful in inheritance when you want to write code in strict disciplined manner. You can create signature of all the methods in abstract base class and force child class to implement them. Virtual Method gives you flexibility to write code in your choice. In the next chapter you will learn Constructors in Inheritance.