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Chapter 11
Abstract Data Types(ADT)
Definition of ADT:
An abstract data type (ADT) is
a collection of data and related operations.
An ADT includes both data and relational operations
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The Data:
1. An ADT defines the data to be operated upon as well as the operations
that can be performed on the data.
2. How to organize and store the ADT data will not be concerned on
the surface of declaration of class.
3. The data in an ADT must be private, which means that it is hidden
from any operations that are not defined for the ADT.
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The Operations:
1. The ADT includes operations, or functions, that manipulate the ADT
data.
2. These operations are public, which means that they are used by outside
software to access and manipulate the private ADT data.
An ADT provides a means to encapsulate details whereby
the data are completely hidden from their surroundings.
ADT operations provide loose coupling to the outside world
via a function interface.