What is abstraction in programming?

Abstraction in programming is the concept of focusing on essential characteristics while ignoring irrelevant details. This allows a programmer to simplify complex systems by highlighting only the necessary components and functionalities, thus making it easier to manage and interact with the code.

By concentrating on what an object does rather than how it does it, abstraction helps in reducing complexity and increasing efficiency. This is particularly beneficial when dealing with large codebases or when developing interfaces, as it allows developers to understand and utilize object-oriented components without needing to delve into the underlying implementation details.

This principle is widely applied in designing abstract classes or interfaces in object-oriented programming. It enables a clear separation of the "what" from the "how," thereby facilitating code reusability and maintainability.