What is the term for a loop that increments a counter by a certain value each time an event occurs?

The term for a loop that increments a counter by a certain value each time an event occurs is understood best through the concept of an incremental counter. This type of loop specifically focuses on increasing a numerical counter systematically, often within the context of repeated actions or events occurring within a program.

In programming, an incremental counter is commonly used when you want to keep track of how many times a specific event has happened or how many iterations a loop has completed. Each time the loop executes, the counter increases by a defined step, allowing programmers to monitor progress or tally occurrences effectively.

Counter mechanisms can vary in operation, but the central aspect is the controlled change in value, which is typically by one or a specified increment. This approach is foundational in computer science, as loops form the backbone of many algorithms and processes where counting is required.

The other options do not accurately describe this behavior. A fixed counter doesn't allow for variable increments; an iterative loop just refers to the action of repeating a block of code without specifically addressing how a counter is manipulated. The sum function, meanwhile, generally pertains to adding together multiple values rather than incrementing a single counter based on an event.