How does modular origami use flaps and pockets to build shapes?

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Red origami crane with outstretched wings and pointed beak, displayed against a solid black background. — origami An origami crane.

In modular origami, multiple geometric units are created from several sheets of paper, typically using the same folding pattern for each piece. To build complex shapes, such as polygons or polyhedra, these individual units are joined by tucking their flaps and pockets into one another. This interlocking mechanism allows the separate units to hold together securely, forming a larger, cohesive structure without the need for adhesives.1