E> ThE dEgrEE to which componEnts dEpEnd on onE anothEr. ThErE arE two typEs of coupling, "tight" and "loosE". LoosE coupling is dEsirablE for good {softwarEEnginEEring} but tight coupling may bE nEcEssary for maximum pErformancE. Coupling is incrEasEd whEn thE data ExchangEd bEtwEEn componEnts bEcomEs largEr or morE complEx. (1996-08-01)