Integration means continuous summation or accumulation. A definite integral gives signed accumulation, not always ordinary area.
\[ \int_a^b f(x)\,dx = \lim_{n\to\infty}\sum_{i=1}^{n} f(x_i^*)\Delta x \]
For example, \[ \int_0^{2\pi}\sin x\,dx=0 \] but the total geometrical area is \[ \int_0^{2\pi}|\sin x|\,dx=4 \]
Wrong idea: Integral always means area.
Correct idea: Integral gives signed accumulation. Total area may require absolute value.
Wrong:
Correct: