Programblokk

Programblokk is a modular unit used in software design to encapsulate a discrete part of a program's functionality. While the term is not bound to a single language, it is commonly used in discussions of block-based programming as well as in modular software architecture. A programblokk typically exposes a well-defined interface and hides its internal implementation.

In block-based environments such as visual programming editors, a programblokk is represented as a block with input and output connectors. Links between blocks determine the data flow or control flow, and blocks can be rearranged to form different sequences. In textual programming, a programblokk corresponds to a function, method, or module, providing a reusable unit with parameters and a return value.

Purpose and benefits: by dividing a program into programblokk, developers can improve readability, reuse, and testability. Each block can be developed and tested independently, and changes in one block have limited impact on others if interfaces are stable. This modular approach supports composition and scalability in larger systems.

Design considerations include defining clear boundaries, stable interfaces, and minimal coupling. Granularity should balance simplicity with usefulness; overly fine-grained blocks may create complexity, while coarse-grained blocks may reduce reusability. Documentation and naming conventions help users discover and integrate blocks.

Examples: a calculateDiscount block that takes a price and a discount rate and outputs a discounted price; or a fetchWeatherData block that retrieves data from an API. In code, these correspond to functions or modules with specified inputs and outputs.

See also: modular programming, function, microservice, block-based programming.