can interfaces have methods which are declared abstract

[Chandra Bairi]

can interfaces have methods which can be declared with the keyword abstract.
i read a book which says that the keyword is superflous and would not compile does the code get compiled
for me it is compiling properly

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

Section 9.4 of the Java Language Specification says

For compatibility with older versions of the Java platform, it is permitted but discouraged, as a matter of style, to redundantly specify the abstract modifier for methods declared in interfaces.

[Jason Menard]

The keyword does appear to be superfluous. A class implementing an interface with such a method will compile fine even if it makes the method concrete.
[ November 13, 2003: Message edited by: Jason Menard ]