event-driven

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

event-driven

   <programming> A kind of program, such as a {graphical user
   interface}, with a main loop which just waits for {events} to
   occur.  Each event has an associated handler which is passed
   the details of the event, e.g. mouse button 3 pressed at
   position (355, 990).

   For example, {X window system} and most {Visual Basic}
   {application programs} are event-driven.

   See also {callback}.

   (2000-02-09)