A method and network device for embedded area abstraction. Specifically, the method and network device described herein implement the abstraction of one or more subareas of an area within a network implementing a link state protocol. Abstraction of a given subarea of a given area within a network may provide for routing using network devices in the given subarea without requiring that the network devices, in the complement of the given subarea within the given area, maintain link state information respective to the entire network topology of the given subarea.