Why not abstract fields?

Question

Why can't Java classes have abstract fields like they can with abstract methods?

For example: I have two classes that extend the same abstract base class. These two classes each have a method that is identical except for a String constant, which happens to be an error message, within them. If fields could be abstract, I could make this constant abstract and pull the method up into the base class. Instead, I have to create an abstract method, called getErrMsg() in this case, that returns the String, override this method in the two derived classes, and then I can pull up the method (which now calls the abstract method).

Why couldn't I just make the field abstract to begin with? Could Java have been designed to allow this?

Answer 1

You can do what you described by having a final field in your abstract class that is initialised in its constructor (untested code):

abstract class Base {

    final String errMsg;

    Base(String msg) {
        errMsg = msg;
    }

    abstract String doSomething();
}

class Sub extends Base {

    Sub() {
        super("Sub message");
    }

    String doSomething() {

        return errMsg + " from something";
    }
}

If your child class "forgets" to initialise the final through the super constructor the compiler will give a warning an error, just like when an abstract method is not implemented.