Which programming design approach begins by specifying the overall structure of a program and then decomposes it into smaller parts?

• A. Top-down
• B. Bottom-up
• C. Modular
• D. Iterative

Answer: (A)

Top-down design starts by outlining the overall structure of a program and then breaks that structure into smaller parts. This approach focuses on the big picture first—defining major components, their roles, and how data and control flow between them—before filling in the detailed implementation. By refining the design step by step, you keep the system’s architecture clear and maintainable and make sure the interfaces between parts are well understood from the start.

Bottom-up builds from small, working pieces and then combines them into a complete system, while modular emphasizes organizing code into modules with clear interfaces, and iterative development cycles through repeated planning and building. The described method specifically matches the idea of planning the whole structure first and then decomposing it into components.