Which concept involves responding to events with minimal delays?

The concept of responding to events with minimal delays is best encapsulated by the idea of interrupt handling. In computing systems, interrupt handling is a technique that allows the processor to respond immediately to important or urgent tasks by pausing the current execution and shifting focus to the handling of the interrupt. This is particularly useful in real-time systems where responsiveness is critical, and it ensures that events are addressed as soon as they occur.

Interrupt handling allows devices, such as I/O peripherals, to signal their need for attention to the processor, facilitating quick responses to external events without needing to constantly check the state of the device or system. By prioritizing certain signals or events, interrupt handling efficiently manages resources and reduces latency, making it highly effective for applications requiring immediate attention.

In contrast, other options involve different mechanisms of event management. Event-driven architecture focuses on the design of systems that respond to events but may not prioritize immediate response in the same way as interrupt handling. Polling mechanism involves regularly checking the status of an input/output device but can introduce delays since the CPU may spend time checking before an event is handled. Signal handling is relevant in certain contexts, particularly in UNIX-like operating systems, allowing processes to respond to signals asynchronously but may not be as immediate as responding directly