Question: Why use an abstract class instead of an interface?

Answer: The main reason to use an abstract class rather than an interface is because abstract classes can carry a functional "payload" that numerous subclasses can inherit and use directly. Interfaces can define the same abstract methods as an abstract class but cannot include any concrete methods.

In a real program it is not a question of whether abstract classes or interfaces are better, because both have features that are useful. It is common to use a mixture of interface and abstract classes to create a flexible and efficient class hierarchy that introduces concrete methods in layers. In practical terms it is more a question of the appropriate point in the hierarchy to define "empty" abstract methods, concrete methods and combine them through the extends and implements keywords.

The example below compares a "Spectrum" type defined by an interface and an abstract class and shows how the abstract class can provide protected methods that minimise the implementation requirements in its subclasses.