Abstraction in Python is a fundamental concept in Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) that involves hiding the implementation details of a class while exposing only the essential features to the user. This allows users to interact with objects without needing to understand the complexities of their underlying implementation. For instance, when using a class like Car, users can call methods such as start_engine() or accelerate() without needing to know how these methods are implemented internally ²⁴.

The benefits of abstraction include improved understandability, increased reusability, and easier maintenance. By focusing on the behavior of objects rather than their implementation, developers can create more manageable and secure code. Changes to the implementation can be made without affecting other parts of the program, which simplifies updates and maintenance ²⁴.

In Python, abstraction can be implemented using abstract classes and methods, which serve as blueprints for other classes. This allows developers to define methods that must be created within any child classes that inherit from the abstract class ⁵.