Dictionary of Computer and Internet Terms: top-down programming
top-down programming
a technique of programming by defining the overall outlines of the program first and then filling in the details.
The top-down approach is usually the bestway to write complicated programs. Detailed decisions are postponed until the requirements of the large program are known; this is better than making the detailed decisions early and then forcing the major program strategy to conform to them. Each part of the program (called a module) can be written and tested independently.
