'event-driven' originates from the combination of 'event' and 'driven', where 'event' refers to an occurrence or happening, and 'driven' implies being motivated or controlled by something.

The term 'event-driven' evolved from the concept of 'event' in computing and 'driven' as a descriptor for systems that react to stimuli.

Initially, it referred to systems that respond to external stimuli, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.