Definitionv1DF-582
Integration tax
the cumulative cost of all transitions, handoffs, translations, and context switches between agents in a system, which can exceed the execution cost of the individual components
Why This Is a Definition
This definition precisely establishes the semantic boundary of 'integration tax' by identifying its genus (cost category) and differentia (cumulative transitions, handoffs, translations, context switches). It distinguishes this concept from component execution costs and provides a clear operational meaning that answers what exactly 'integration tax' means in this curriculum context.