The document discusses aspect-oriented programming (AOP) which aims to modularize crosscutting concerns in software. It defines aspects as modular units that crosscut other modular units. Aspects can encapsulate concerns like synchronization, failure handling, etc. that crosscut multiple components. AspectJ is presented as an AOP extension to Java that allows defining aspects separately from classes and composing them using pointcuts and advice. Some challenges and open issues with AOP are also discussed.