Reactive programming
lastmod 2026-02-07created 2015-10-227 edits
In computing, reactive programming is a programming paradigm oriented around data flows and the propagation of change. This means that it should be possible to express static or dynamic data flows with ease in the programming languages used, and that the underlying execution model will automatically propagate changes through the data flow.
It is a data-centric way of thinking, but unlike OOP, which is also data-centric, reactive programming is more concerned with the flow of data, that is, data flow. The most commonly seen reactive programming language is the spreadsheet program Excel. If you insist that a programming language must be written in a text editor, there is something called RxJS. It is also called the Actor model.
What is reactive programming
Reactive programming is a programming paradigm that processes data streams such as events or arrays asynchronously, reacting flexibly to change.
There can be Pull and Push scenarios for communicating with the outside.
- Pull scenario
- Issues a command externally, receives the response, and processes it.
- Must keep calling to fetch data.
- Push scenario
- Issues a command externally without waiting, and reacts and processes when the response arrives
- Must subscribe to fetch data.
Reactive Programming adopts the Push scenario.
Frameworks
See also
- Coi - A component-based language for building reactive web apps