How do you measure coupling and cohesion in software design?

How do you measure coupling and cohesion in software design?

Coupling refers to the degree of interdependence between software modules, while cohesion measures how closely related the responsibilities of a single module are. You can measure coupling using metrics like the number of dependencies between modules, and cohesion can be assessed through metrics like the number of related functions within a module.

What are some common metrics used for measuring these concepts?

Common metrics for coupling include the Coupling Between Objects (CBO) and the Number of Dependencies. For cohesion, you might look at the Lack of Cohesion of Methods (LCOM) and the number of related methods in a class.

Why is it important to measure coupling and cohesion?

Measuring coupling and cohesion is crucial for maintaining code quality. High cohesion within modules and low coupling between them typically lead to more maintainable, understandable, and flexible code.

Can you give an example of high cohesion and low coupling?

Sure! A class that handles all user authentication tasks, like login and registration, exhibits high cohesion. If this class interacts with other classes only through well-defined interfaces, it demonstrates low coupling.