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-orderfunctions (parameters are functions), bracket abstraction

(making a term into a function of a variable).

Opposite of concretisation.

(1998-06-04)