https://DevOpsCloud.io -- Cloud Monk Losang Jinpa, Ph.D., MCSE/MCT, GitOps DevOps Engineer

See also Abstraction or HAL

TLDR: An abstraction layer is a conceptual boundary within a system that separates high-level functionalities from lower-level implementation details. It provides a simplified interface to complex underlying processes, enabling users and developers to interact with systems without needing to understand their internal mechanics.

The concept of abstraction layers is foundational in computer science, dating back to the early development of operating systems in the 1950s and 1960s. UNIX, developed in 1969 by Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs, exemplifies this approach by separating hardware interactions from user-facing commands. This principle has since been applied across computing domains.

Abstraction layers are widely used in operating systems, such as the Linux Virtual File System (VFS), to manage file system interactions. In this context, the VFS abstracts the specifics of various file system types, like ext4 and NTFS, presenting a unified interface to applications. This design simplifies file management and enhances system compatibility.

In database systems, abstraction layers enable seamless data retrieval and manipulation. For example, SQL provides a high-level interface to interact with data stored in cloud database systems, hiding the complexities of data storage, indexing, and query optimization. This abstraction allows developers to focus on application logic without delving into database internals.

Software development also benefits from abstraction layers through APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) and frameworks. These layers allow developers to leverage pre-built libraries and tools for tasks like graphical rendering, networking, and hardware communication, reducing development time and complexity.

By isolating specific functionalities, abstraction layers promote modularity and flexibility in system design. Their application spans robotics, automation, and enterprise computing, demonstrating their enduring importance in creating systems that balance usability with technical sophistication.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abstraction_layer

Snippet from Wikipedia: Abstraction layer

In computing, an abstraction layer or abstraction level is a way of hiding the working details of a subsystem. Examples of software models that use layers of abstraction include the OSI model for network protocols, OpenGL, and other graphics libraries, which allow the separation of concerns to facilitate interoperability and platform independence.

In computer science, an abstraction layer is a generalization of a conceptual model or algorithm, away from any specific implementation. These generalizations arise from broad similarities that are best encapsulated by models that express similarities present in various specific implementations. The simplification provided by a good abstraction layer allows for easy reuse by distilling a useful concept or design pattern so that situations, where it may be accurately applied, can be quickly recognized. Just composing lower-level elements into a construct doesn't count as an abstraction layer unless it shields users from its underlying complexity.

A layer is considered to be on top of another if it depends on it. Every layer can exist without the layers above it, and requires the layers below it to function. Frequently abstraction layers can be composed into a hierarchy of abstraction levels. The OSI model comprises seven abstraction layers. Each layer of the model encapsulates and addresses a different part of the needs of digital communications, thereby reducing the complexity of the associated engineering solutions.

A famous aphorism of David Wheeler is, "All problems in computer science can be solved by another level of indirection." This is often deliberately misquoted with "abstraction" substituted for "indirection." It is also sometimes misattributed to Butler Lampson. Kevlin Henney's corollary to this is, "...except for the problem of too many layers of indirection."

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