abstraction Definition
- 1the quality of dealing with ideas rather than events
- 2the process of considering something independently of its associations or attributes
- 3a work of art or literature that does not represent people or things realistically
Using abstraction: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "abstraction" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The artist's latest work is an abstraction of the human form.
Example
The concept of love is an abstraction that can be difficult to define.
Example
In computer science, abstraction is the process of hiding complexity by simplifying a system.
abstraction Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for abstraction
Phrases with abstraction
the transfer of power from a central authority to subordinate or local entities
Example
The country's constitution provides for the abstraction of power to local governments.
a level of software or hardware that hides the underlying complexity of a system
Example
The operating system's kernel provides an abstraction layer between applications and hardware.
a design principle in computer science that suggests that software should be written in terms of high-level concepts and not implementation details
Example
The abstraction principle is an important concept in object-oriented programming.
Origins of abstraction
from Latin 'abstractio', meaning 'a drawing away'
Summary: abstraction in Brief
The term 'abstraction' [æbˈstrækʃən] refers to the quality of dealing with ideas rather than events, or the process of considering something independently of its associations or attributes. It can also refer to a work of art or literature that does not represent people or things realistically. Examples include 'The artist's latest work is an abstraction of the human form.' and 'In computer science, abstraction is the process of hiding complexity by simplifying a system.'