An abstract is a brief summary of a larger work, such as a research paper, thesis, or article. It provides an overview of the main objectives, methods, results, and conclusions, allowing readers to quickly understand the essence of the document. Abstracts are commonly used in academic and professional settings to help researchers decide whether to read the full text. There are two main types of abstracts: descriptive and informative. Descriptive abstracts outline the purpose and scope of the work without detailing results, while informative abstracts include key findings and conclusions. Both types serve to facilitate efficient information retrieval in databases and journals.