What is abstraction?

Abstraction is a fundamental concept in computer science and software engineering. It involves simplifying complex systems by modeling classes appropriate to the problem, and working at the most appropriate level of interaction. By hiding unnecessary implementation details, abstraction allows programmers to focus on the essential aspects of a system, making it easier to understand, modify, and reuse. Common uses include data abstraction (hiding data representation), procedural abstraction (hiding code implementation), and control abstraction (hiding control flow).