====== Module ======

===== Meaning 1: Module as a General Concept =====

==== Alternative Terms ====
/*i.e. alternative names meaning the same thing*/

==== Definition ====
A **module** is a piece of code that carries a name and is syntactically distinguished from other parts of the code.

==== Description ====
Several [[principles]] deal with the decomposition and interaction of classes, methods, procedures, functions, etc. In order to abstract from the concrete syntactic element---be it a class, a method, a procedure, a function, an executable or the like---the term "module" is used. A module is a general concept of a distinguishable part of the code which can be represented by a variety of language constructs.

==== Examples ====

  * [[Procedures]]
  * [[Functions]]
  * [[Methods]]
  * [[Classes]]
  * [[Interfaces]]
  * [[Mixins]]
  * Modules (see below)
  * ...

==== Alternative Definitions ====
/*i.e. slightly different definitions for basically the same thing*/

==== See Also ====
  * [[Unit]]

==== Further Reading ====


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===== Meaning 2: Module in the Context of Modular Programming =====

==== Alternative Terms ====
/*i.e. alternative names meaning the same thing*/
  * Unit

==== Definition ====

In the context of [[modular programming]] "module" refers to the concept of a specific part of a system encapsulating  a certain piece of functionality.

==== Description ====

==== Examples ====


==== Alternative Definitions ====
/*i.e. slightly different definitions for basically the same thing*/

==== See Also ====


==== Further Reading ====
  * [[wp>Modular Programming]]


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===== Meaning 3: Module as a Language Construct =====

==== Alternative Terms ====
/*i.e. alternative names meaning the same thing*/

==== Definition ====

In some programming languages "module" may refer to a certain language feature more or less linked to the module concept in modular programming (see above).

==== Description ====

==== Examples ====

  * Python modules: https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/modules.html
==== Alternative Definitions ====
/*i.e. slightly different definitions for basically the same thing*/

==== See Also ====


==== Further Reading ====


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===== Other Meanings =====
/*i.e. the same term referring to something different; put short mentions here or better add more detailed descriptions as additional sections */

  * In the context of testing, "module" may refer to the smallest separately testable piece of code.

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===== Discussion =====

Discuss this wiki article and the term on the corresponding [[talk:glossary:Module|talk page]].