9/22/22, 2:27 PM Java Functional Interface | Making Java Easy To Learn

Making Java easy to learn

Java Technology and Beyond

You are here

Home > Java 8 >

Java Functional Interface

Java 8 Core Java java by devs5003 - April 26, 2021  3

Java

Functional Interface has become available for us since the introduction of new features in
Java 8. Needless to say, how important functional Interfaces are in Java. If we start
learning the most popular feature of Java 8 : ‘The Lambda Expression’, we should at least
know the basics of Functional Interfaces. However, you will get more than basics from this
article.

Moreover, they also promote functional programming in Java. Without functional

Interfaces, you can’t imagine to write a code of Lambda Expression and Method
References. In fact, introduction of default & static methods inside an interface in Java 8
itself has completely changed the definition of Interfaces in Java. Let’s discuss our topic
‘Java Functional interface’ and other related concepts.
https://javatechonline.com/java-functional-interface/ 1/11
9/22/22, 2:27 PM Java Functional Interface | Making Java Easy To Learn

Table of Contents (Click on links below to navigate) [hide]

1 How many types of Interfaces are there in Java ?

2 What is a Java Functional Interface?
2.1 Is it not mandatory to add abstract keyword during method declaration in
functional interface as we generally do in interfaces before JDK 1.8?
3 Why Java Functional Interface ? Advantages of Java Functional Interface ?
4 Examples of Functional Interfaces: 
5 How to write Functional Interfaces 
6 Behavior Of Functional interface in the context of Inheritance
7 Functional Interfaces in context of Lambda Expression (Functional Interfaces with
Lambda Expression)
8 Example to convert traditional code to the code using Lambda Expression
8.1 Without Lambda Expression:
8.2 With Lambda Expression:

How many types of Interfaces are there in Java ?

Typically we have three types of Interfaces till now.

1) Normal Interface

2) Marker Interface
3) Functional Interface

Normal Interface is an interface which has either one or multiple number of abstract
methods.

However, Marker Interface is an interface with no abstract method.  (Because till JDK8 an
interface can have only abstract methods, no normal methods). We use it to provide a
type to its sub-classes for executing some logic from other classes.

Additionally, Functional Interface is an interface which has only one abstract method.
Further, it can have any number of static, default methods and even public methods of
java.lang.Object class. In fact, we use it to define Lambda Expressions & Method
References by directly providing logic to an argument of a method.

If you want to learn interfaces in java in detail, kindly visit our separate article on ‘Java
Interface‘, which includes new changes in interfaces after the introduction of Java 8 & Java
9 features.

What is a Java Functional Interface?

If an interface contains only one abstract method, we call it a functional interface. The
contained method is called functional method or single abstract method (SAM).
https://javatechonline.com/java-functional-interface/ 2/11
9/22/22, 2:27 PM Java Functional Interface | Making Java Easy To Learn

Consequently, they provide target types for lambda expressions and method references.
Moreover, Java 8 contains some built-in Functional Interfaces designed for commonly
occurring use cases. They are available in a separate package java.util.Function. Hence,
we don’t have to create our own functional interfaces every time for a small use case.
Note that instances of functional interfaces can be created with lambda expressions,
method references, or constructor references.

Note : In addition to single abstract method, we can also have any number of default &
static methods inside a Functional Interface. Moreover, we don’t have any restrictions on
including ‘Object’ class’ public methods inside Functional interfaces. Needless to say, they
are equals(), hashCode(), notify(), notifyAll(), toString(), wait(), getClass() .

Is it not mandatory to add abstract keyword during method

declaration in functional interface as we generally do in interfaces
before JDK 1.8?
Obviously, It is not mandatory to add abstract keyword during the method declaration
either in a functional interface or in a normal interface. Even, before JDK 1.8 also, it was
optional. When we apply interface keyword before the name of the Interface, all methods
declared in this interface become public abstract by default. Therefore, it’s up to the
developer whether he/she adds it or not.

Why Java Functional Interface ? Advantages of Java

Functional Interface ?
We provide implementation of Functional Interfaces using Lambda expressions & Lambda
expressions can only be used in context of Functional interfaces. You can assign a lambda
expression to a single abstract method (i.e. To a Functional interface). If you could assign a
lambda expression to an interface containing more than one abstract method (i.e. a non
functional interface), the lambda expression could only have implemented one of its
methods, leaving the other methods unimplemented. That’s why Lambda expressions
don’t have method name, return types etc. as it talks about a single abstract method.

Therefore, there is no point of having more than one abstract method in Functional
Interfaces as they are meant for Lambda expressions & Lambda expression could be
assigned to a single abstract method.

Examples of Functional Interfaces: 

Runnable : contains only run() method

Comparable : contains only compareTo() method

https://javatechonline.com/java-functional-interface/ 3/11
9/22/22, 2:27 PM Java Functional Interface | Making Java Easy To Learn

ActionListener : contains only actionPerformed()

Callable : contains only call() method

ItemListener : contains only itemStateChanged() method

How to write Functional Interfaces 

In addition to having only one abstract method, we should write @FunctionalInterface
annotation in order to let the compiler know that the interface is a Functional. In fact, if
you add annotation @FunctionalInterface, the compiler will not let you add any other
abstract method inside it. For example, observe the below code:

//This is a Functional Interface

@FunctionalInterface

interface FunctionalInterface1 {

public void m1();

//This is not a Functional Interface. This code will show compilatio

@FunctionalInterface

interface NonFunctionalInterface2 {

public void m1();

public void m2();

Behavior Of Functional interface in the context of

Inheritance
If an interface extends Functional Interface and child interface doesn’t contain any
abstract method, then again child interface is also a Functional Interface.

https://javatechonline.com/java-functional-interface/ 4/11
9/22/22, 2:27 PM Java Functional Interface | Making Java Easy To Learn

@FunctionalInterface

interface A {

public void m1();

@FunctionalInterface

interface B extends A{

In the child interface we are allowed to define exactly same single abstract method as it is
in the parent interface as below.

@FunctionalInterface

interface B extends A {

public void m1();

In other words, the child interface will not have any new abstract methods otherwise child
interface won’t remain a Functional Interface and if we try to use @FunctionalInterface
annotation in child interface, compiler will show an error message. If we don’t use
@FunctionalInterface in child interface & declare new abstract method, the compiler will
consider it as a normal interface & will not show any error as below.

interface B extends A{

public void m2();

Functional Interfaces in context of Lambda Expression

(Functional Interfaces with Lambda Expression)
We can assign Lambda expressions to Functional Interfaces. In brief, if we have an
interface with a single abstract method or a functional interface, then we can use the

https://javatechonline.com/java-functional-interface/ 5/11
9/22/22, 2:27 PM Java Functional Interface | Making Java Easy To Learn

concept of lambda. This is a prerequisite to apply the concept of Lambdas. Now let’s look
at the code below:

interface A {

public void m1();

public class Demo implements A{

public void m1(){

System.out.println("m1() is executing");

public class Test {

public static void main(String[] args){

A a= new Demo();

a.m1();

We can write equivalent code to the above code using lambda expression as below:

interface A {

public void m1();

public class Test {

public static void main(String[] args){

A a= ()-> System.out.println("m1() is executing");

a.m1();

Example to convert traditional code to the code using

Lambda Expression
https://javatechonline.com/java-functional-interface/ 6/11
9/22/22, 2:27 PM Java Functional Interface | Making Java Easy To Learn

Let’s take another example to convert code using lambda expressions. To illustrate, we will
develop a functionality to calculate sum of two numbers to understand use of Lambda
expressions.

Without Lambda Expression:

interface Sum {

public void sum(int a, int b);

class SumImpl implements Sum {

public void sum(int a, int b) {

System.out.println("The sum of numbers is: " + (a + b));

class Test {

public static void main(String[] args) {

Sum s = new SumImpl();

s.sum(24, 14);

With Lambda Expression:

interface Sum {

public void sum(int a, int b);

class Test {

public static void main(String[] args) {

Sum s = (a,b) -> System.out.println("The sum of numbers is:

s.sum(24, 14);

https://javatechonline.com/java-functional-interface/ 7/11
9/22/22, 2:27 PM Java Functional Interface | Making Java Easy To Learn

Is it not mandatory to add abstract keyword during method declaration in functional

interface as we generally do in interfaces before JDK 1.8?

For further details on functional interfaces, kindly visit Oracle Documentation.

 Tagged @functionalinterface in java function interface in java Functional Interface functional interface
in java functional interface in java 8 functional interface in java example functional interface java
functional interface java 8 functional interface java example Functional Interfaces functional interfaces in
java functional interfaces in java 8 functionalinterface Interface with only one method in java8 interfaces
java examples Is it not mandatory to add abstract keyword during method declaration in functional interface as we
generally do in interfaces before JDK 1.8? java 8 functional interface Java 8 Functional Interfaces java custom
functional interface java custom functional interface example Java Functional Interface java functional
interface example java functional interfaces Types of Interfaces in Java use of functional interface in java
what is functional interface in java why functional interface in java

 Previous article
Spring Boot MongoDB CRUD Example

Next article 
Spring Boot MongoDB @Query Examples

3 thoughts on “Java Functional Interface”

April 28, 2021 at 4:29 AM

What DO you mean by this statement? why to mention ‘even methods of
Ss
java.lang.Object class’ what does this mean?

Functional Interface is an interface which has only one abstract method. Further it can
have any number of static, default methods and even methods of java.lang.Object
class

Reply

April 28, 2021 at 10:56 AM

It simply means ‘Apart from single abstract method you can also have
Devs5003
methods of java.lang.Object class in a Functional Interface’.

Reply

August 1, 2022 at 7:03 PM

https://javatechonline.com/java-functional-interface/ 8/11