Abstraction

Synonyms

Aggregation; Association; Classification; Component abstraction; Composition; Generalization; Grouping; Implementation abstraction; Specialization

Definition

Abstraction allows developers to concentrate on the essential, relevant, or important parts of an application. It uses a mapping to a model from things in reality or from virtual things. The model has the truncation property, i.e., it lacks some of the details in the original, and a pragmatic property, i.e., the model use is only justified for particular model users, tools of investigation, and periods of time. Database engineering uses construction abstraction, context abstraction, and refinement abstraction. Construction abstraction is based on the principles of hierarchical structuring, constructor composition, and generalization. Context abstraction assumes that the surroundings of a concept are commonly understood by a community or within a culture and focuses on the concept, turning away attention from its...