abcabstractmethod

abcabstractmethod is a decorator provided by Python's `abc` (Abstract Base Classes) module. It is used to mark methods within an abstract base class as abstract. Abstract methods are intended to be implemented by concrete subclasses. They define an interface that subclasses must adhere to, but they do not provide an implementation themselves.

When a class inherits from an abstract base class that has abstract methods, it must provide implementations for all those abstract methods. If a subclass fails to implement any of the abstract methods, it will also be considered an abstract class, and instances of it cannot be created. This mechanism helps ensure that certain functionalities are present in all derived classes, promoting a consistent API.

The `@abstractmethod` decorator is applied directly above the method definition within the abstract base class. It signals to Python's abstract base class system that this method is abstract. Other methods within an abstract base class can have concrete implementations, acting as default behaviors or helper functions for subclasses. However, methods decorated with `@abstractmethod` are strictly placeholders.

Using abstract methods is a common practice in object-oriented programming to enforce design patterns and create robust, maintainable code. It allows developers to define a common structure and contract for a set of related classes without needing to know the specific implementation details upfront.