Abstraction vs. Generalization — What's the Difference?

Abstraction in its main sense is a conceptual process where general rules and concepts are derived from the usage and classification of specific examples, literal ("real" or "concrete") signifiers, first principles, or other methods. "An abstraction" is the outcome of this process—a concept that acts as a common noun for all subordinate concepts, and connects any related concepts as a group, field, or category.Conceptual abstractions may be formed by filtering the information content of a concept or an observable phenomenon, selecting only the aspects which are relevant for a particular subjectively valued purpose.

A generalization is a form of abstraction whereby common properties of specific instances are formulated as general concepts or claims. Generalizations posit the existence of a domain or set of elements, as well as one or more common characteristics shared by those elements (thus creating a conceptual model).

The act of abstracting or the state of having been abstracted.

The act or an instance of generalizing.

An abstract concept, idea, or term.

A principle, statement, or idea having general application.

An abstract quality.

An act or instance of generalizing; concluding that something true of a subclass is true of the entire class

Preoccupation; absent-mindedness.

The formulation of general concepts from specific instances by abstracting common properties.

An abstract work of art.

Inductive reasoning from detailed facts to general principles

The act of abstracting, separating, withdrawing, or taking away; withdrawal; the state of being taken away.

An oversimplified or exaggerated conception, opinion, or image of the members of a group.

(euphemistic) The taking surreptitiously for one's own use part of the property of another; purloining.

(mathematics) A proof, axiom, problem, or definition that includes another's cases, and also some additional cases; a conclusion reached by inferring from specific cases to more general cases or principles.

(engineering) Removal of water from a river, lake, or aquifer.

The act or process of generalizing; the act of bringing individuals or particulars under a genus or class; deduction of a general principle from particulars.

A separation from worldly objects; a recluse life; the withdrawal from one's senses.

A general inference.

The act of focusing on one characteristic of an object rather than the object as a whole group of characteristics; the act of separating said qualities from the object or ideas.

The process of formulating general concepts by abstracting common properties of instances

Any characteristic of an individual object when that characteristic has been separated from the object and is contemplated alone as a quality having independent existence.

Reasoning from detailed facts to general principles

A member of an idealized subgroup when contemplated according to the abstracted quality which defines the subgroup.

An idea having general application;

The act of comparing commonality between distinct objects and organizing using those similarities; the act of generalizing characteristics; the product of said generalization.

(psychology) transfer of a response learned to one stimulus to a similar stimulus

An idea or notion of an abstract or theoretical nature.

Absence or absorption of mind; inattention to present objects; preoccupation.

(art) An abstract creation, or piece of art; qualities of artwork that are free from representational aspects.

(chemistry) A separation of volatile parts by the act of distillation.

An idea of an idealistic, unrealistic or visionary nature.

The result of mentally abstracting an idea; the product of any mental process involving a synthesis of: separation, despecification, generalization, and ideation in any of a number of combinations.

(geology) The merging of two river valleys by the larger of the two deepening and widening so much so, as to assimilate the smaller.

(computing) Any generalization technique that ignores or hides details to capture some kind of commonality between different instances for the purpose of controlling the intellectual complexity of engineered systems, particularly software systems.

(computing) Any intellectual construct produced through the technique of abstraction.

The act of abstracting, separating, or withdrawing, or the state of being withdrawn; withdrawal.

The act process of leaving out of consideration one or more properties of a complex object so as to attend to others; analysis. Thus, when the mind considers the form of a tree by itself, or the color of the leaves as separate from their size or figure, the act is called abstraction. So, also, when it considers whiteness, softness, virtue, existence, as separate from any particular objects.

An idea or notion of an abstract, or theoretical nature; as, to fight for mere abstractions.

A separation from worldly objects; a recluse life; as, a hermit's abstraction.

Absence or absorption of mind; inattention to present objects.

The taking surreptitiously for one's own use part of the property of another; purloining.

A separation of volatile parts by the act of distillation.

A concept or idea not associated with any specific instance;

The act of withdrawing or removing something

The process of formulating general concepts by abstracting common properties of instances

An abstract painting

Preoccupation with something to the exclusion of all else

A general concept formed by extracting common features from specific examples