What is meant by abstraction in the context of OOP?

In the context of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), abstraction refers to the process of simplifying complex systems by hiding the intricate details and exposing only the essential features. This means that a programmer can focus on the high-level functionalities without needing to understand the underlying complexity.

For example, consider a car; when driving, a person interacts with the steering wheel, accelerator, and brakes, but does not need to know the details of how the engine works or how fuel is processed. This abstraction allows users to utilize the car without needing to understand its mechanical intricacies. In OOP, abstraction is typically achieved through the use of abstract classes and interfaces, which allow the creation of programs that are easier to manage and modify because they encapsulate behavior while hiding implementation details.

This concept is fundamental in software engineering as it promotes a clear separation between how an object behaves (its interface) and how it achieves that behavior (its implementation). Thus, the primary goal is to reduce complexity and increase efficiency in programming.