Abstraction refers to the ability of managing complexity in such a way that the user is not troubled by implementation details. Abstraction enables the user to implement complex logic without needing to understand underlying complexity.

Before we dive in, let's look at an analogy to better understand the concept. Imagine you are driving a car. You use the steering wheel, pedals, and gear shift to accelerate, steer, and brake. Do you need to know the underlying details of the engine, transmission, or electrical system to do all that? No. That's abstraction—focusing on the essential features without concerning yourself with the underlying complexities.

Benefits of abstraction

Let's look at some of the key benefits of using abstraction:

  • Simplifies complex systems: Abstraction allows users to interact with complex systems by focusing on essential details, hiding unnecessary implementation details.

  • Improves code readability: By presenting only relevant information, abstraction makes the code easier to read and understand.

  • Enhances maintainability: Abstracting functionality makes it easier to update or modify code without affecting other parts of the system.

  • Promotes reusability: Abstract classes and interfaces provide a blueprint for future implementations, promoting code reuse across different projects.

  • Encourages modularity: By breaking down systems into smaller, abstract components, abstraction facilitates the development of modular code.

  • Increases security: By hiding the internal workings of methods and exposing only the necessary interfaces, abstraction helps in safeguarding sensitive information or logic.

Types of abstraction

There are two types of abstraction:

  • Data abstraction

  • Process abstraction

Data abstraction

Data abstraction refers to hiding the details of how data is stored and maintained, only exposing what is necessary for the operation of the data. In Python, this is achieved using classes and objects, where data are encapsulated within the class. Let's understand data abstraction with the help of Person class example.

Get hands-on with 1200+ tech skills courses.