What defines component-based development in software engineering?

Component-based development is primarily defined by the reuse of existing software components. This approach emphasizes assembling applications from pre-existing, reusable software modules, which allows developers to take advantage of tested, reliable components instead of creating new code from scratch. By leveraging these components, developers can accelerate the development process, reduce costs, and improve software quality through reusability and established functionality.

This methodology contrasts with other aspects of software development, such as rigorous requirements analysis, which focuses on thorough understanding of what needs to be built before any code is written. While this is important for overall software quality, it does not specifically define component-based development.

Similarly, a documentation-driven methodology emphasizes the importance of producing detailed documents to guide development, which may not be the primary focus in a component-based approach where the emphasis is more on the components themselves rather than extensive documentation.

Agile development practices promote iterative development and flexibility in project management but do not directly relate to the core principle of reusing existing software components. While component-based development can align with agile practices, the defining characteristic remains the reuse of components to build software efficiently.