Data Abstraction

Data abstraction is a powerful concept in computer science that allows programmers to treat code as objects -- for example, car objects, chair objects, people objects, etc. That way, programmers don't have to worry about the detail of code/implementation -- we just have to know what it does.

Data abstraction mimics how we think about the world. When you want to drive a car, you don't need to know how the engine was built or what kind of material the tires are made of. You just have to know how to turn the wheel and press the gas pedal.

An abstract data type(ADT for short) consists of two types of functions:

• Constructors: functions that build the abstract data type.
• Selectors: functions that retrieve information from the data type.

Programmers design ADTs to abstract away how information is stored and calculated such that the end users do not need to know how constructors and selectors are implemented. The nature of abstract data types allows users to assume that the functions have been written correctly and work as described.