What does abstraction in programming aim to do?

Abstraction in programming aims to manage complexity by simplifying the design and implementation of systems. It allows programmers to focus on high-level concepts without needing to manage the intricate details of every component. By using abstraction, a programmer can create models, functions, and classes that encapsulate complex behaviors and represent them with simpler interfaces. This enables developers to build complex systems while maintaining clarity and efficiency, as they can work with broader ideas rather than getting bogged down in minute details.

The other choices might seem relevant in some contexts but do not specifically address the primary goal of abstraction. Increasing complexity is contrary to what abstraction seeks to achieve. While abstraction can enhance performance and potentially reduce execution time indirectly by allowing for optimization, these are not its main goals. Instead, the core purpose of abstraction is to provide a way to handle the complexity of software development effectively.