Modulariteti

Modulariteti, or modularity, is a design principle that organizes a system into separate components called modules, each encapsulating a portion of the functionality. Modules interact through well-defined interfaces, enabling independent development, testing, and replacement while the overall system remains coherent. The concept is used across disciplines, from software and hardware to architecture and biology.

Key aspects include loose coupling, high cohesion within modules, and explicit interfaces. Modularity supports abstraction, reuse, scalability, and easier maintenance. It also enables parallel workstreams, versioning, and incremental upgrades.

In software, modularity appears in modular programming, libraries, component-based design, and service-oriented or microservice architectures. In hardware and product design, modular construction and plug-and-play components are common. In architecture and urban design, modular systems allow prefabrication and adaptive reuse. In biology and cognitive science, modularity describes semi-independent subsystems like gene networks or brain networks.

Trade-offs include potential overhead from interfaces, integration complexity, and performance costs. Effective modularity requires clear ownership, stable interfaces, and standardization. Today, modularity remains central to open standards, platform ecosystems, and scalable systems, enabling customization and resilience.