API design terminology, I just can't remember the word!

Question

There's a word that's used in API design that relates to the coupling between two entities. If one entity can vary without impacting the entity they are said to be _ _ _ _ _. For example given the declaration

class Point { public int X; public in Y; }

members X and Y could be said to exhibit this behaviour, as a change to X does not lead to any change in Y. The word I am looking for is not used that much in .NET circles but you'd be hard pressed to read a bokk on C++ STL without coming upon this word repeatedly.

So, after much searching I can't remember this word, can you?

Answer 1

Orthogonal? Independent?

Answer 2

Ahh, that's it! Orthogonal was the word I was looking for. Thanks.