black box vs fixture

black box

noun
  • A theoretical construct or device with known input and output characteristics but unknown method of operation. 

  • A flight recorder; the brightly colored cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders in an aircraft designed to aid in determining the cause of an accident. 

  • A device used in phreaking that prevents the calling party from being billed for the call placed. 

  • A type of theater characterized by a lack of decoration or complex mechanisms. 

  • Any similar device on motor vehicles, such as rail event recorders and ship trip recorders. 

verb
  • To focus on the inputs and outputs without worrying about the internal complexity. 

fixture

noun
  • A work-holding or support device used in the manufacturing industry. 

  • A scheduled match. 

  • A regular patron of a place or institution; a person constantly present at a certain place. 

  • A lighting unit; a luminaire. 

  • Something that is fixed in place, especially a permanent appliance or other item of personal property that is considered part of a house and is sold with it; compare fitting, furnishing. 

  • A state that can be recreated, used as a baseline for running software tests. 

verb
  • To furnish with, as, or in a fixture. 

  • To schedule (a match). 

How often have the words black box and fixture occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )