Abstract Data Type

Abstract data type

A logical description of the data and its operations is known as abstract data type (ADT). ADT is known as the user’s point of view of data. ADT is concerned about possible values of data and interfaces exposed by it. The real execution of the data structure is insignificant to ADT.

Example

A consumer has to keep track of specific integers and calculate their averagevalue. This data structure’s ADT would have two functions: adding integers and calculating the mean value.

The ADT for this data structure exposes its interface to the user. The user will know how to use it. But the user will not get involved in its implementation details.