In the science of learning, "chunking" is when you take something complex, and break it down into smaller, easier to understand pieces.

Chunking is the idea of breaking down a big (hard to understand) concept into smaller pieces. 

"When you first look at a brand new concept it sometimes doesn't make much sense... Chunking is the mental leap that helps you unite bits of information together through meaning. The new logical whole makes the chunk easier to remember, and also makes it easier to fit the chunk into the larger picture of what you're learning." - Dr. Barbara Oakley, University of California, San Diego