219. Abstract Properties in Python

🛠 10 Python Snippets for Abstract Properties

🔹 1. Basic Abstract Property

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from abc import ABC, abstractmethod

class Animal(ABC):
    @property
    @abstractmethod
    def sound(self):
        """Subclasses must implement this property"""
        pass

class Dog(Animal):
    @property
    def sound(self):
        return "Woof!"

d = Dog()
print(d.sound)  # ✅ Output: Woof!

✅ Fix: Using @property with @abstractmethod forces subclasses to define the property.

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🔹 2. Abstract Property with Setter

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from abc import ABC, abstractmethod

class Vehicle(ABC):
    @property
    @abstractmethod
    def speed(self):
        pass
    
    @speed.setter
    @abstractmethod
    def speed(self, value):
        pass

class Car(Vehicle):
    def __init__(self):
        self._speed = 0

    @property
    def speed(self):
        return self._speed

    @speed.setter
    def speed(self, value):
        if value < 0:
            raise ValueError("Speed cannot be negative")
        self._speed = value

c = Car()
c.speed = 60
print(c.speed)  # ✅ Output: 60

✅ Fix: A subclass must implement both getter and setter.

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🔹 3. Abstract Property with a Default Implementation

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from abc import ABC, abstractmethod

class Appliance(ABC):
    @property
    @abstractmethod
    def power(self):
        return "Unknown"

class Fan(Appliance):
    @property
    def power(self):
        return "50W"

f = Fan()
print(f.power)  # ✅ Output: 50W

✅ Fix: Abstract properties can have default values, overridden in subclasses.

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🔹 4. Abstract Read-Only Property

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from abc import ABC, abstractmethod

class Shape(ABC):
    @property
    @abstractmethod
    def area(self):
        """Subclasses must define this property"""
        pass

class Square(Shape):
    def __init__(self, side):
        self._side = side

    @property
    def area(self):
        return self._side ** 2

s = Square(4)
print(s.area)  # ✅ Output: 16

✅ Fix: A getter-only property ensures the attribute is read-only.

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🔹 5. Enforcing Multiple Abstract Properties

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from abc import ABC, abstractmethod

class Device(ABC):
    @property
    @abstractmethod
    def brand(self):
        pass

    @property
    @abstractmethod
    def model(self):
        pass

class Phone(Device):
    def __init__(self, brand, model):
        self._brand = brand
        self._model = model

    @property
    def brand(self):
        return self._brand

    @property
    def model(self):
        return self._model

p = Phone("Apple", "iPhone 15")
print(p.brand, p.model)  # ✅ Output: Apple iPhone 15

✅ Fix: Enforce multiple abstract properties in a single class.

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🔹 6. Using super() in Abstract Properties

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from abc import ABC, abstractmethod

class Laptop(ABC):
    @property
    @abstractmethod
    def os(self):
        return "Unknown OS"

class MacBook(Laptop):
    @property
    def os(self):
        return super().os + " (Modified) - macOS"

m = MacBook()
print(m.os)  # ✅ Output: Unknown OS (Modified) - macOS

✅ Fix: Use super() to extend an abstract property’s behavior.

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🔹 7. Abstract Property with Class Variables

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from abc import ABC, abstractmethod

class Planet(ABC):
    @property
    @abstractmethod
    def gravity(self):
        pass

class Earth(Planet):
    GRAVITY = 9.8  # Class variable

    @property
    def gravity(self):
        return self.GRAVITY

e = Earth()
print(e.gravity)  # ✅ Output: 9.8

✅ Fix: Abstract properties can return class variables.

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🔹 8. Abstract Property with Validation

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from abc import ABC, abstractmethod

class Employee(ABC):
    @property
    @abstractmethod
    def salary(self):
        pass

    @salary.setter
    @abstractmethod
    def salary(self, value):
        pass

class Developer(Employee):
    def __init__(self, salary):
        self._salary = salary

    @property
    def salary(self):
        return self._salary

    @salary.setter
    def salary(self, value):
        if value < 30000:
            raise ValueError("Salary must be at least 30,000")
        self._salary = value

d = Developer(50000)
print(d.salary)  # ✅ Output: 50000

✅ Fix: Use validation logic in the setter.

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🔹 9. Abstract Properties with Multiple Inheritance

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from abc import ABC, abstractmethod

class Mammal(ABC):
    @property
    @abstractmethod
    def has_fur(self):
        pass

class Carnivore(ABC):
    @property
    @abstractmethod
    def diet(self):
        pass

class Tiger(Mammal, Carnivore):
    @property
    def has_fur(self):
        return True

    @property
    def diet(self):
        return "Meat"

t = Tiger()
print(t.has_fur, t.diet)  # ✅ Output: True Meat

✅ Fix: Abstract properties work with multiple inheritance.

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🔹 10. Abstract Property with Caching (functools.lru_cache)

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from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
from functools import lru_cache

class ExpensiveCalculation(ABC):
    @property
    @abstractmethod
    def compute(self):
        pass

class DataProcessor(ExpensiveCalculation):
    @property
    @lru_cache(maxsize=1)  # Caches the result for performance
    def compute(self):
        print("Running expensive computation...")
        return 42  # Simulating expensive operation

dp = DataProcessor()
print(dp.compute)  # ✅ Output: Running expensive computation... 42
print(dp.compute)  # ✅ Output: 42 (cached result, no print)

✅ Fix: Combine @abstractmethod with @lru_cache for performance.

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🚀 Summary: Abstract Properties in Python

Feature

Use Case

@property @abstractmethod

Enforce read-only abstract properties.

@property @abstractmethod + @setter

Enforce read/write properties.

Default abstract property values

Provide a default implementation.

super() in abstract properties

Extend base class logic.

Multiple abstract properties

Ensure multiple attributes are implemented.

lru_cache with abstract property

Optimize expensive computations.