Abstraction

Introduction

Using the power of abstraction, we are able to pursue limitless possibilities despite the limits of our world.

What is Abstraction?

Abstraction is the process where you take something and replace it with something that is functionally equivalent but simpler to think about.

Take, for instance, the number 4. It is a strange little shape, made of three lines that cross each other. What does it represent? It represents the idea of "four"---four identical or similar things together in a group.

Rather than use four oranges (because oranges may be hard to come by), we decided to use this little picture to represent the number "four".

Part of the reason why 4 behaves the way it does is because "four" behaves the way it does.

What kinds of abstractions exist?

• Recipes are an abstraction of a process. It reduces it down to the necessary steps.
• All of math is an exercise in abstraction.
• Computers are used to do things that have nothing to do with what we think they are doing. We are dealing with abstractions while the computers are busy setting and unsetting bits.

Caveats

Be very careful when choosing an abstraction. It must be functionally equivalent, at least in the realm of problems you intend to use it for, and also simpler to deal with. If it is not one or the other, don't use it! Otherwise, your would will grow more and more complicated.