When to use interface and abstract class is one of the most popular object-oriented design questions and is almost always asked in Java, C#, and C++ interviews. In this article, we will mostly talk in the context of the Java programming language, but it equally applies to other languages as well. The question usually starts with a difference between abstract class and interface in Java, which is rather easy to answer, especially if you are familiar with the syntax of the Java interface and abstract class. Things start getting difficult when the interviewer asks about when to use abstract class and interface in Java, which is mostly based upon a solid understanding of popular OOPS concepts like Polymorphism, Encapsulation, Abstraction, Inheritance, and Composition.