Array of abstract class

Question

Why can I not instantiate an abstract class but make an array of the abstract class?

public abstract class Game{
  ...
}

Game games = new Game(); //Error
Game[] gamesArray = new Game[10]; //No Error

Answer 1

Game[] gamesArray = new Game[10];

Instantiation means creation of an instance of a class. In the above scenario, you've just declared a gamesArray of type Game with the size 10(just the references and nothing else). That's why its not throwing any error.

You'll get the error when you try to do

gamesArray[0] = new Game(); // because abstract class cannot be instantiated

---

but make an array of the abstract class?

Later on, you can do something like this

gamesArray[0] = new NonAbstractGame(); // where NonAbstractGame extends the Games abstract class.

This is very much allowed and this is why you'll be going in for an abstract class on the first place.

Answer 2

Because when you make an array of some object type, you're not trying to instantiate the objects. All you're making is a number of slots to put references in.

new Game[10]; makes 10 slots for Game references, but it doesn't make a single Game.

Answer 3

Because you don't violate the abstract class rules.Essentially,

Game games = new Game();

is broken down to:

Game games; //Will Work because it's just a declaration
games=new Game(); //Will not work because it's instantiation

While creating objects is perfectly valid for abstract classes, initializing is not permitted.