Leaf class (computer programming)

In class-based object-oriented programming languages, a leaf class is a class that should not be subclassed. This can be enforced either by convention, or by using a language feature such as the final keyword in C++, Java or PHP, or the sealed keyword in C# or Scala.

In Java, the Leaf node is an abstract class for all scene graph nodes that have no children. Leaf nodes specify lights, geometry, and sounds. They specify special linking and instancing capabilities for sharing scene graphs and provide a view platform for positioning and orienting a view in the virtual world.