Modular design

Modular design is a design principle that divides a system into smaller, independent parts called modules, which can be created, modified, replaced or exchanged on their own or between different systems. It combines the cost benefits of standardization with the flexibility of customization, using functional partitioning into reusable modules with well defined, often industry standard interfaces. Its benefits include reduced cost from standardized parts, easier updates through swapping individual modules rather than replacing a whole product, extended product life, reduced production time and faster time to market, and it is applied to systems as varied as vehicles, buildings, space stations, computers, smartphones, televisions and weapons systems. A genuinely modular system demands more design expertise than a simpler platform system, since the designer must anticipate the directions in which flexibility will be needed from the start. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/