C# FAQ: Is a Cplusplus abstract class like a CSharp interface

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Is a C++ abstract class like a C# interface?

No, a C# interface is not the same thing as a C++ abstract class. In C++, an abstract class cannot be instantiated; but, it can include data members and-or implementation code.

In contrast, a C# interface cannot contain data members and-or implementation code. A C# interface is little more than a collection of method signatures. Thus, a C# interface is more like a COM interface than a C++ abstract class.

See also

• Implement .NET Framework interfaces
• Implementing Interfaces
• Interface
• Interface-Based Programming
• Should I use an abstract class or an interface?
• Test for an interface implementation
• Using Inheritance Effectively
• Visual Studio: Implementing interfaces