What characterizes an event-driven programming paradigm?

An event-driven programming paradigm is primarily distinguished by the fact that the program's flow is determined by events such as user actions (like keyboard input or mouse clicks), sensor outputs, or messages from other programs. In this approach, the program responds to these events in real time, allowing for a more dynamic interaction with users and other systems.

Events trigger specific functions or methods, enabling developers to create responsive applications that actively engage with the user. This model is especially prevalent in graphical user interfaces (GUIs), where the behavior of the application changes based on user inputs, making it essential for modern software development.

Other provided options do not accurately reflect the tenets of event-driven programming. For instance, variables are still utilized for data management in event-driven paradigms, numerical calculations can be part of a program but are not the sole focus, and a strictly linear flow is incompatible with the responsiveness that event-driven programming exemplifies. The essence of this paradigm lies in its flexible, non-linear approach to control flow, which adapts as events occur.