How does single-sheet origami differ from modular origami?

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

The primary difference between single-sheet and modular origami lies in the number of components used to create the final artwork.

Single-sheet origami: As the name implies, this style utilizes a single piece of paper—typically square—to form the entire subject. This is the most common approach to the art form.1
Modular origami: This style involves multiple sheets of paper, which can number in the hundreds for a single creation. Practitioners fold these sheets into individual geometric "units," which are then assembled by tucking flaps and pockets into one another to construct complex polygons or polyhedra. In this style, the individual units are typically folded in the same way or using a limited number of folding patterns.1

While single-sheet origami relies on the manipulation of one piece of material, modular origami functions as a composite construction method, emphasizing the assembly of multiple identical or similar parts to achieve a larger, often geometric, structure.1