Reactive Programming

Definitions

1. A programming paradigm oriented around asynchronous data streams and the propagation of change, where the runtime automatically updates dependent computations when their upstream values change. Libraries like RxJS, Reactor, and frameworks like Svelte or SolidJS implement reactive programming through observables, signals, or fine-grained dependency tracking.

   In plain English: A style of programming where changes flow automatically through the system, so when one value updates, everything that depends on it updates too.

   Example: "In our reactive UI, changing the filter observable automatically propagates through the pipeline — map, debounce, switchMap to the API — without us wiring up any callbacks."

Related Terms

• Event-Driven Architecture
• Coroutine
• Event Loop
• Future
• Promise
• Kafka Stream
• Push Model
• Reactive Stream
• Redux Thunk
• Suspension Point
• Top-Level Await