Question

Every program has a shape. On a small scale, this shape is determined by its division into functions and the blocks inside those functions. Programmers have a lot of freedom in the way they structure their programs. Shape follows more from the taste of the programmer than from the program’s intended functionality.

When looking at a larger program in its entirety, individual functions start to blend into the background. Such a program can be made more readable if we have a larger unit of organization.

Modules divide programs into clusters of code that, by some criterion, belong together. This chapter explores some of the benefits that such division provides and shows techniques for building modules in JavaScript.

This is a book about getting computers to do what you want them to do. Computers are about as common as screwdrivers today, but they contain a lot more hidden complexity and thus are harder to operate and understand. To many, they remain alien, slightly threatening things.