Modularity
The degree to which a system's components may be separated and recombined, often with the benefit of flexibility and variety in use.
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Origin
Nobel laureate Herbert A. Simon first formalized modularity for complex systems in his classic 1962 paper, identifying how systems composed of many interacting parts could reduce complexity through encapsulation into modules. His concept of "nearly-decomposable systems" described how natural systems use modular structure to respond effectively to change. Simon expanded these ideas in The Sciences of the Artificial (1969), establishing foundational principles for systems design across disciplines.
Updated February 22, 2026