Software Engineering: Coupling and Refactoring

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Questions and Answers

Which type of coupling involves modules sharing the same data or functions, requiring updates in one when changes are made in another?

Content coupling (correct)

Control coupling

Common coupling

Data coupling

What is the main purpose of refactoring in software design?

To improve the performance of the software's existing features

To completely redesign the software from scratch

To simplify the design without affecting its functionality (correct)

To modify the software's behavior while changing its structure

Which coupling type describes a situation where data from one module controls the execution flow of another module?

Common coupling

External coupling

Stamp coupling

Control coupling (correct)

Which type of coupling involves sharing information through global data items?

Common coupling Signup and view all the answers

What is a key indicator that a software system may need refactoring?

Presence of redundancy or unused design elements Signup and view all the answers

Which type of coupling indicates that a change in one module may necessitate changes in several other modules?

Content Coupling Signup and view all the answers

In which type of coupling do modules share a common global data structure?

Common Coupling Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary goal of refactoring in software design?

To reconstruct the software's internals without impacting behavior Signup and view all the answers

Which type of coupling allows for modular communication through composite data items?

Stamp Coupling Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of poor coupling in a software design?

It complicates maintenance and increases redundancy Signup and view all the answers

How can refactoring influence the software's internal structure?

By simplifying and reducing complexity Signup and view all the answers

In which type of coupling are the modules' connections determined by an external environment?

External Coupling Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a common action taken during refactoring?

Changing the software's core function Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes control coupling among software modules?

Control of functional flow using data from one module Signup and view all the answers

Which type of coupling minimizes dependency by only passing elementary data items?

Data Coupling Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Types of Coupling

Content Coupling: Modules share the same data or functions. Changes in one module require updates in others.
Common Coupling: Modules share information through global data items.
External Coupling: Modules interact with an external environment (e.g., data formats, protocols, or device interfaces).
Control Coupling: Data from one module controls the execution flow in another (handles functional flow between modules).
Stamp Coupling: Modules communicate using composite data items (e.g., a structure or object passed as a parameter).
Data Coupling: Modules communicate through elementary data items passed as parameters.

Refactoring (Reconstruction)

Definition: Reconstructing a software system's internal structure without altering its external behavior.
Purpose: Reduce complexity, simplify the design, and improve the internal structure. This change does not impact existing functionalities.
Impact: Changes do not affect how other parts of the program work.
Refactoring Definition (Fowler): Changing software without altering its behavior, focusing on improving internal structure. This is the process of improving the internal structure without affecting external behavior.
Refactoring Process: Checks for redundancy, unused elements, inefficient algorithms, problematic data structures, or design flaws and corrects them for a better design.

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Description

Explore the essential concepts of coupling in software engineering, including content, common, external, control, stamp, and data coupling. Additionally, learn about the process and purpose of refactoring, which is crucial for improving internal structures without affecting external behavior.