Abstraction principle (computer programming): Difference between revisions

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In [[software engineering]] and [[programming language theory]], the '''abstraction principle''' (or the '''principle of abstraction''') is a basic [[dictum]] that aims to reduce duplication of information in a program (usually with emphasis on [[code duplication]]) whenever practical by making use of [[abstraction (computer science)|abstraction]]s provided by the programming language or [[software libraries]] {{Citation needed|date=June 2018}}. The principle is sometimes stated as a recommendation to the programmer, but sometimes stated as a requirement of the programming language, assuming it is self-understood why abstractions are desirable to use. The origins of the principle are uncertain; it has been reinvented a number of times, sometimes under a different name, with slight variations.

When read as recommendationrecommendations to the programmer, the abstraction principle can be generalized as the "[[don't repeat yourself]]" principle, which recommends avoiding the duplication of information in general, and also avoiding the duplication of human effort involved in the software development process.

== The principle ==