Connascence (computer programming)

In software engineering, two components are connascent if a change in one would require the other to be modified in order to maintain the overall correctness of the system.

Connascence (/kʌnneɪˈsəns/) is a software quality metric invented by Meilir Page-Jones to allow reasoning about the complexity caused by dependency relationships in object oriented design much like coupling did for structured design. In addition to allowing categorization of dependency relationships, connascence also provides a system for comparing different types of dependency. Such comparisons between potential designs can often hint at ways to improve the quality of the software.