Introduction
In object-oriented programming, class design plays a crucial role in creating robust and maintainable code. With the release of Java 15, a new feature called sealed classes has been introduced, adding an extra layer of control and security to class design. Sealed classes allow developers to restrict class hierarchies, preventing external classes from extending or implementing them. In this article, we will discuss the concept of sealed classes, their benefits, and how they can be implemented in Java.
What are sealed classes?
A sealed class is a new type of class introduced in Java 15, that restricts the inheritance and implementation of its subclasses. It can be considered as a sealed container that allows only specific classes to extend or implement it. Once a class is declared as sealed, it becomes final by default, and any attempt to extend or implement it by external classes will result in a compilation error.
Advantages of using sealed classes
1. Enhanced Security: Sealed classes provide an additional layer of security by restricting the inheritance and implementation of its subclasses. This prevents the unauthorized modification of core classes and ensures that only trusted subclasses can access and modify the sealed class.
2. Better Control over Class Hierarchies: With sealed classes, developers have better control over the class hierarchies. By explicitly defining the allowed subclasses, we can ensure that only relevant and properly designed classes extend or implement the sealed class, leading to a more maintainable codebase.
3. Improved Code Flexibility: By restricting the subclasses that can extend or implement a sealed class, we can make necessary changes or refactoring without worrying about breaking any external code. This provides a sense of flexibility while working with sealed classes and ensures that the codebase remains stable and maintainable.
Implementation of Sealed Classes
To declare a class as sealed, we can use the 'sealed' keyword in the class declaration as shown below:
//Sealed class declaration public sealed class Triangle permits EquilateralTriangle, RightAngleTriangle { //Class body }
Here, the 'permits' keyword is used to specify the subclasses that are allowed to extend the sealed class. In the above example, only the classes 'EquilateralTriangle' and 'RightAngleTriangle' can extend the 'Triangle' class.
Now, let's create the subclasses that can extend the 'Triangle' class.
//Example of Subclass that Extends Sealed Class public final class EquilateralTriangle extends Triangle { //Class body } //Example of Subclass that Extends Sealed Class public non-sealed class RightAngleTriangle extends Triangle { //Class body }
Notice that the 'EquilateralTriangle' class is declared as 'final' since it is the last subclass in the inheritance hierarchy, and the 'RightAngleTriangle' class is declared as 'non-sealed' since it allows further subclasses to extend it.
Next, let's see an example of implementing sealed interfaces. An interface can be declared as sealed using the same syntax as sealed classes.
//Sealed class declaration public sealed class Triangle permits EquilateralTriangle, RightAngleTriangle { //Class body }
Here, the 'permits' keyword is used to specify the classes that are allowed to implement the sealed interface. In the above example, only the classes 'Rectangle' and 'Circle' can implement the 'Shape' interface.
//Example of Subclass that Extends Sealed Class public final class EquilateralTriangle extends Triangle { //Class body } //Example of Subclass that Extends Sealed Class public non-sealed class RightAngleTriangle extends Triangle { //Class body }
Notice that the 'Rectangle' class is declared as 'final' since it is the last class to implement the 'Shape' interface, and the 'Circle' class is declared as 'non-sealed' since it allows further classes to implement it.
Inheritance rules for sealed classes and interfaces
- A sealed class must explicitly permit the subclasses that can extend it.
- All the permitted subclasses must be direct subclasses of the sealed class. This means that we cannot extend a non-permitted subclass to create an indirect subclass of the sealed class.
- A sealed interface must explicitly permit the classes that can implement it.
- All the permitted classes must implement all the interface methods. This means that we cannot create a class that partially implements the sealed interface.
Conclusion
Sealed classes are a powerful addition to Java that can greatly enhance class design and make the codebase more secure and maintainable. By restricting the hierarchy of classes and interfaces, sealed classes provide an additional layer of control and flexibility while designing classes. With this new feature, developers can ensure that only trusted subclasses or implementing classes can access and modify the sealed class, leading to a more stable and robust codebase. Enhance your Java skills by taking latest Java Certifications.
The above is the detailed content of Advanced Class Design using Java Sealed Classes. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

Hot AI Tools

Undress AI Tool
Undress images for free

Undresser.AI Undress
AI-powered app for creating realistic nude photos

AI Clothes Remover
Online AI tool for removing clothes from photos.

Clothoff.io
AI clothes remover

Video Face Swap
Swap faces in any video effortlessly with our completely free AI face swap tool!

Hot Article

Hot Tools

Notepad++7.3.1
Easy-to-use and free code editor

SublimeText3 Chinese version
Chinese version, very easy to use

Zend Studio 13.0.1
Powerful PHP integrated development environment

Dreamweaver CS6
Visual web development tools

SublimeText3 Mac version
God-level code editing software (SublimeText3)

There are three main differences between Callable and Runnable in Java. First, the callable method can return the result, suitable for tasks that need to return values, such as Callable; while the run() method of Runnable has no return value, suitable for tasks that do not need to return, such as logging. Second, Callable allows to throw checked exceptions to facilitate error transmission; while Runnable must handle exceptions internally. Third, Runnable can be directly passed to Thread or ExecutorService, while Callable can only be submitted to ExecutorService and returns the Future object to

Java supports asynchronous programming including the use of CompletableFuture, responsive streams (such as ProjectReactor), and virtual threads in Java19. 1.CompletableFuture improves code readability and maintenance through chain calls, and supports task orchestration and exception handling; 2. ProjectReactor provides Mono and Flux types to implement responsive programming, with backpressure mechanism and rich operators; 3. Virtual threads reduce concurrency costs, are suitable for I/O-intensive tasks, and are lighter and easier to expand than traditional platform threads. Each method has applicable scenarios, and appropriate tools should be selected according to your needs and mixed models should be avoided to maintain simplicity

JavaNIO is a new IOAPI introduced by Java 1.4. 1) is aimed at buffers and channels, 2) contains Buffer, Channel and Selector core components, 3) supports non-blocking mode, and 4) handles concurrent connections more efficiently than traditional IO. Its advantages are reflected in: 1) Non-blocking IO reduces thread overhead, 2) Buffer improves data transmission efficiency, 3) Selector realizes multiplexing, and 4) Memory mapping speeds up file reading and writing. Note when using: 1) The flip/clear operation of the Buffer is easy to be confused, 2) Incomplete data needs to be processed manually without blocking, 3) Selector registration must be canceled in time, 4) NIO is not suitable for all scenarios.

In Java, enums are suitable for representing fixed constant sets. Best practices include: 1. Use enum to represent fixed state or options to improve type safety and readability; 2. Add properties and methods to enums to enhance flexibility, such as defining fields, constructors, helper methods, etc.; 3. Use EnumMap and EnumSet to improve performance and type safety because they are more efficient based on arrays; 4. Avoid abuse of enums, such as dynamic values, frequent changes or complex logic scenarios, which should be replaced by other methods. Correct use of enum can improve code quality and reduce errors, but you need to pay attention to its applicable boundaries.

Java's class loading mechanism is implemented through ClassLoader, and its core workflow is divided into three stages: loading, linking and initialization. During the loading phase, ClassLoader dynamically reads the bytecode of the class and creates Class objects; links include verifying the correctness of the class, allocating memory to static variables, and parsing symbol references; initialization performs static code blocks and static variable assignments. Class loading adopts the parent delegation model, and prioritizes the parent class loader to find classes, and try Bootstrap, Extension, and ApplicationClassLoader in turn to ensure that the core class library is safe and avoids duplicate loading. Developers can customize ClassLoader, such as URLClassL

Javaprovidesmultiplesynchronizationtoolsforthreadsafety.1.synchronizedblocksensuremutualexclusionbylockingmethodsorspecificcodesections.2.ReentrantLockoffersadvancedcontrol,includingtryLockandfairnesspolicies.3.Conditionvariablesallowthreadstowaitfor

The key to Java exception handling is to distinguish between checked and unchecked exceptions and use try-catch, finally and logging reasonably. 1. Checked exceptions such as IOException need to be forced to handle, which is suitable for expected external problems; 2. Unchecked exceptions such as NullPointerException are usually caused by program logic errors and are runtime errors; 3. When catching exceptions, they should be specific and clear to avoid general capture of Exception; 4. It is recommended to use try-with-resources to automatically close resources to reduce manual cleaning of code; 5. In exception handling, detailed information should be recorded in combination with log frameworks to facilitate later

HashMap implements key-value pair storage through hash tables in Java, and its core lies in quickly positioning data locations. 1. First use the hashCode() method of the key to generate a hash value and convert it into an array index through bit operations; 2. Different objects may generate the same hash value, resulting in conflicts. At this time, the node is mounted in the form of a linked list. After JDK8, the linked list is too long (default length 8) and it will be converted to a red and black tree to improve efficiency; 3. When using a custom class as a key, the equals() and hashCode() methods must be rewritten; 4. HashMap dynamically expands capacity. When the number of elements exceeds the capacity and multiplies by the load factor (default 0.75), expand and rehash; 5. HashMap is not thread-safe, and Concu should be used in multithreaded
