Essential complexity

Essential complexity is the amount of complexity that is necessary to do a certain task, like how complicated something needs to be. For example, making a PB&J sandwich requires you to get the two pieces of bread and spread the peanut butter and jelly on them. That's all the complexity that is necessary to get a PB&J sandwich, so it has essential complexity. Some things, like taking a shower, also have essential complexity because you need certain steps to do it, like getting water and soap, turning the water on and off, and drying yourself off.