What is the purpose of the abstract keyword in PHP

The purpose of the abstract keyword in PHP is to define abstract classes and abstract methods. An abstract class cannot be instantiated directly; instead, it serves as a blueprint for other classes. Abstract methods, which are declared without a body, must be implemented by any subclasses, ensuring a specific structure for those classes.

Here is an example of how to use the abstract keyword in PHP:

<?php abstract class Animal { abstract protected function makeSound(); public function describe() { return "This is an animal."; } } class Dog extends Animal { protected function makeSound() { return "Bark"; } } $dog = new Dog(); echo $dog->makeSound(); // Outputs: Bark echo $dog->describe(); // Outputs: This is an animal. ?>

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