implement : Java Glossary

Extending means adding new method definitions. Implementing means satisfying the existing interface contract by writing the proscribed method bodies. Logically, when you extend an abstract class and fill in the method bodies, that should be called implementing, but in the Java world that is called extending.

When you provide an abstract class to satisfy an interface, logically you have not really implemented anything, but in the Java world, that still counts as implementing.

When a class or abstract class implements or extends, those methods are are available in all descendants. All descendant classes automatically implement that inteface too. You you can refer to descendant class objects by the base class name or the interface name.