Java 8 – Interface interview question and answers

In this article, we will cover some of the interview questions with their justification on Java 8 interface

These are most frequently asked interview question from OOPS concepts

Java 8 Interface questions:

Q) What are default methods in Java 8 ?

  • With the release Java 8, the new cool feature is added i.e.; if any new method need to be added then provide default implementation for this new method inside interface itself
  • This new method will be prefixed with “default” keyword and known as default method
  • In Java 8, default methods are alternatively referred as Virtual Extension methods or defender methods
  • Example for default method

InterfaceInJava8.java

package in.bench.resources.itf.example;

// only public and abstract are permitted
public interface InterfaceInJava8 {

	// old abstract method
	void displayAbstractMethod(); // by default, this is public and abstract

	// default method with concrete implementation from Java 8
	default void displayDefaultMethod() {
		System.out.println("InterfaceInJava8 : default method impl inside interface");
	}
}

Q) Is it ok to define default methods in Java 8 without “default” keyword inside interface ?

  • No, for defining default method inside interface “default” keyword is must and it should prefix method declaration
  • Without prefixing default keyword results in compilation error
  • Compile-time error: Abstract methods do not specify a body
  • Reason: without default keyword, compiler consider it as abstract method and as said abstract methods doesn’t have body
9_Interface_interview_no_default_keyword

Q) Whether multiple inheritance possible i.e.; implementing 2 or more interfaces ?

  • Java allows multiple inheritance through interfaces i.e.; a class can implement 2 or more interfaces
  • Post Java 8 release and with introduction of default methods, ambiguity problem might arise when both interfaces has same method with exactly same signature
  • Read more about Java 8 default and static methods in Interface in detail

Q) What happens in multiple inheritance from Java 8 ?

  • In Java 8, class can implement 2 or more interfaces and this might arise ambiguity problem with the introduction default method inside interface
  • Ambiguity problem arises because; both interfaces can have same method with exactly same signature
  • Read more about Java 8 default and static methods in Interface in detail

Q) What happens, if a class implements 2 interfaces having exactly same “default” method with same signature ?

  • Results in ambiguity problem with compiler throwing error
  • There are 2 interfaces having same default methods and a class implements both this interfaces and results in ambiguity problem

DemoInterfaceA.java

10_Interface_interview_multiple_inheritance_ambiguity_problem_A

DemoInterfaceB.java

11_Interface_interview_multiple_inheritance_ambiguity_problem_B

TestMultipleInheritance.java

12_Interface_interview_multiple_inheritance_ambiguity_problem_Test_class
  • Compile-time error: Duplicate default methods named displayDefaultMethod with the parameters () and () are inherited from the types DemoInterfaceB and DemoInterfaceA
  • Read more about Java 8 default and static methods in Interface in detail

Q) How can we resolve ambiguity problem in Java 8 while implementing multiple Interfaces ?

  • To resolve ambiguity problem in Java 8, override the conflicting method
  • Now, if we want to invoke default method from any of the interfaces then call using super keyword
  • For example, <interfaceName>.super.<defaultMethodName>
13_Interface_interview_multiple_inheritance_ambiguity_problem_solution

Q) How to invoke one of the interface’s default method while implementing two interfaces ?

  • Using super keyword
  • Syntax: <interfaceName>.super.<defaultMethodName>

Q) How to come overcome, multiple inheritance problem in Java 8 ?

  • Override the default method in the implementation class
  • Altogether provide new implementation or
  • Invoke either one of the default method using super keyword
  • For example, <interfaceName>.super.<defaultMethodName>
  • Read more about Java 8 default and static methods in Interface in detail

Q) What happens, if a class implements 2 interfaces having exactly same method with same signature (consider one as default and another abstract) ?

  • Compilation fails with error saying conflicting method
  • Compile-time error: The default method displayDefaultMethod() inherited from DemoInterfaceA conflicts with another method inherited from DemoInterfaceB
  • To overcome this error, override this conflicting method and provide new implementation or invoke default method’s implementation using super keyword
14_Interface_interview_multiple_inheritance_conflicting method

Q) Can we declare static method inside interface ?

  • Yes, we can declare starting from Java 8

Q) Is it ok, to define static method inside interface ?

  • Till Java 7 version,
  • Defining any concrete method (method with body) inside interface will throw compilation error, even if it’s static method
  • Post Java 8 release, Static methods are allowed to define inside interface
  • This is new feature added in Java 8 which will act as a helper method
  • Read more about Java 8 default and static methods in Interface in detail

Q) How can we access static methods inside Interface ?

  • Using interface name
  • Syntax: <interfaceName>.<variableName>

Q) What are the different types of Interface in Java 8 version ?

  • Before Java 1.8 version, there are 2 types of interface
    • Old Java interface
    • Marker interface
  • With Java 1.8 version, we can add static & default methods
    • interface in Java 8
    • Functional interface
  • Read Java 8 – Types of interface for more details with examples

Related Articles:

References:

Happy Coding !!
Happy Learning !!

Java - Initialization blocks with examples
Java - Interview Question and Answers on Interface