Kotlin Interfaces - Defining and Implementing

Interfaces are a crucial part of object-oriented programming and are used to define contracts that classes must adhere to. In Kotlin, you can both define and implement interfaces, providing a flexible way to structure your code. In this guide, we'll explore how to work with interfaces in Kotlin.

Defining an Interface

You can define an interface in Kotlin using the interface keyword. Here's an example:

interface Shape {
    fun area(): Double
    fun perimeter(): Double
}
    

The Shape interface defines two abstract methods: area and perimeter.

Implementing an Interface

To implement an interface, you create a class that implements the methods defined in the interface. Here's an example:

class Circle(val radius: Double) : Shape {
    override fun area(): Double {
        return Math.PI * radius * radius
    }
    override fun perimeter(): Double {
        return 2 * Math.PI * radius
    }
}
    

The Circle class implements the Shape interface by providing concrete implementations of the area and perimeter methods.

Using Interfaces

You can create instances of classes that implement interfaces and use them as instances of the interface type:

val shape: Shape = Circle(5.0)
val circleArea = shape.area()
val circlePerimeter = shape.perimeter()
    

Multiple Interfaces

A class can implement multiple interfaces, allowing you to define contracts from multiple sources:

interface Drawable {
    fun draw()
}
class ShapeWithDrawing(val sides: Int) : Shape, Drawable {
    override fun area(): Double {
        // Area calculation
    }
    override fun perimeter(): Double {
        // Perimeter calculation
    }
    override fun draw() {
        // Drawing code
    }
}
    

Conclusion

Interfaces in Kotlin provide a powerful way to define contracts and achieve code modularity. You can define interfaces with abstract methods and then implement those interfaces in your classes. This allows for flexibility and code reusability, making Kotlin a versatile and expressive programming language.

Happy coding!