StepEvent

StepEvent is a generic term used in software development to denote an event that signals the occurrence of a single step within a process. It is not a universal standard type, but a convention adopted by various frameworks to represent progression through time, frames, iterations, or data batches. A StepEvent is typically emitted by a source object such as a simulator, an animation controller, or a data processing pipeline, and may fire at regular intervals or when a specific condition is met.

Event data commonly accompanying a StepEvent includes the step index (an ordinal counter), a timestamp, and a step size or delta (for example, the amount of time advanced or data units processed). Some implementations also carry a payload with state or results relevant to that step.

Usage patterns include driving simulations with fixed time steps, advancing animation timelines frame by frame, progressing through iterative algorithms, and monitoring progress in batch processing. Listeners attach to a StepEvent using the framework’s standard event subscription mechanism, such as addEventListener or on, and handle the event to update state, render visuals, or produce logs.

Design considerations include ensuring consistent step granularity, handling late or missing steps, and thread safety in concurrent environments. The exact shape of the event object and the method names vary by language and framework, so developers should consult the documentation of the specific toolkit in use.

Because the term StepEvent is not tied to a single standard, its meaning and payload can differ between systems, but the common idea remains: signaling a discrete progression in a stepped process.