Abstract structure

An abstract structure is a set of rules, properties and relationships that is defined independently of any physical objects. Abstract structures are studied in philosophy, computer science and mathematics. Indeed, modern mathematics has been defined in a very general sense as the study of abstract structures (by the Bourbaki group: see discussion there, at algebraic structure and also structure).

Related Topics:
Philosophy - Computer science - Mathematics - Bourbaki - Algebraic structure - Structure

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An abstract structure may be represented (perhaps with some degree of approximation) by one or more physical objects - this is called an implementation or instantiation of the abstract structure. But the abstract structure itself is defined in a way that is not dependent on the properties of any particular implementation.

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