abstraction

n. abstract idea; unrealistic idea; act of removing or separating; preoccupation, absentmindedness; abstract work of art

This article is about the concept of abstraction in general. For other uses, see abstraction (disambiguation). Abstraction is the process of generalization by reducing the information content of a concept or an observable phenomenon, typically in order to retain only information which is relevant for a particular purpose. For example, abstracting a leather soccer ball to a ball retains only the information on general ball attributes and behaviour. Similarly, abstracting an emotional state to happiness reduces the amount of information conveyed about the emotional state.
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n. abstraction, abstract

(a.)
The taking surreptitiously for one's own use part of the property of another; purloining.
  

(a.)
The act process of leaving out of consideration one or more properties of a complex object so as to attend to others; analysis. Thus, when the mind considers the form of a tree by itself, or the color of the leaves as separate from their size or figure, the act is called abstraction. So, also, when it considers whiteness, softness, virtue, existence, as separate from any particular objects.
  

(a.)
The act of abstracting, separating, or withdrawing, or the state of being withdrawn; withdrawal.
  

(a.)
An idea or notion of an abstract, or theoretical nature; as, to fight for mere abstractions.
  

(a.)
Absence or absorption of mind; inattention to present objects.
  

(a.)
A separation of volatile parts by the act of distillation.
  

(a.)
A separation from worldly objects; a recluse life; as, a hermit's abstraction.
  

1. Generalisation; ignoring or hiding details to capture some kind of commonality between different instances. Examples are abstract data types (the representation details are hidden), abstract syntax (the details of the concrete syntax are ignored), abstract interpretation (details are ignored to analyse specific properties).
2. <programming> Parameterisation, making something a function of something else. Examples are lambda abstractions (making a term into a function of some variable), higher-order functions (parameters are functions), bracket abstraction (making a term into a function of a variable).
Opposite of concretisation.
(1998-06-04)