concretization

Concretization is the process of making something concrete or specific from an abstract concept. The term is used across disciplines to describe moving from generality to particular instances or providing perceptible detail. In everyday language, concretization often means turning vague goals into actionable steps or tangible objects.

In philosophy and linguistics, concretization refers to exemplification or instantiation: turning a universal attribute or abstract relation into a concrete case or example. It is the counterpoint to abstraction, which highlights general features while leaving specifics open.

In computer science, concretization refers to the mapping from an abstract representation to a concrete one. In formal methods and programming language theory, a gamma function takes abstract values to sets of concrete states, enabling reasoning about implementations. Concretization is often paired with abstraction in a Galois connection.

In design and planning, concretization means specifying details such as requirements, metrics, and steps. It helps translate high-level goals into executable specifications. Caution is needed to avoid over-concretization that reduces flexibility and ignores future changes.

See also abstraction and instantiation.