modulelocal

Modulelocal is a term used in software development to describe identifiers (such as variables, functions, or types) whose visibility is restricted to a single module. When something is module-local, it is not accessible from outside the module except through the module’s explicitly exported public API. The phrase is not universally standardized; it appears in documentation and discussions about module systems and is often described alongside concepts like private, internal, or non-exported symbols.

In languages with a modular structure, visibility is typically controlled by export lists or access modifiers. A module can expose only a carefully chosen subset of its internal implementation, while keeping the rest module-local. This enables a clean public interface while allowing the module to implement its functionality without external dependency on internal details. Module-local items are commonly used for internal helpers, implementation utilities, and other details that should not form part of the module’s external contract.

Benefits of module-local scope include enhanced encapsulation, reduced risk of name clashes across modules, and greater flexibility for refactoring internal code without impacting users of the public API. It can also clarify stability boundaries and, in some toolchains, improve compilation or linking decisions by limiting cross-module interactions.

Limitations and considerations include potential impacts on testing and composability, since internal parts are harder to substitute or mock. The exact semantics of module-localness depend on the language and tooling in use; some systems implement it via private or internal modifiers, while others rely on disciplined export lists. See also: module system, encapsulation, export, private, internal.