# Generalization

*noun*

say it: **“jen-er-ul-ih-ZAY-shun”** **/ˌdʒɛnərəlɪˈzeɪʃən/**

Moving the properties and methods that several classes share up into one base class.

## What is **Generalization**?

**Generalization** — Spotting what several classes have in common and moving it up into one base class. `Book` and `Magazine` both have a title and a price, so those move into `LibraryItem`, written once.

```csharp
class LibraryItem { public string Title { get; set; } = ""; public decimal Price { get; set; } }
class Book : LibraryItem { public string Author { get; set; } = ""; }
class Magazine : LibraryItem { public int Issue { get; set; } }
```

## In a sentence

- “Through **generalization**, Book and Magazine now share Title and Price from LibraryItem.”

Level: Journeyman · [More OOP terms at this level](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary?category=oop&level=3)

Updated: October 28, 2026

## In other subjects

- [Generalization in Database](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/generalization)

Source: https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/generalization-oop