Non-blocking refers to a programming approach where operations can proceed without waiting for other tasks to complete. This means that a program can continue executing while waiting for resources, such as data from a server or a file, to become available. This is particularly useful in environments where responsiveness is crucial, such as in user interfaces or real-time applications. In a non-blocking system, tasks are often managed using techniques like callbacks, promises, or async/await in languages like JavaScript. These methods allow developers to write code that can handle multiple operations simultaneously, improving efficiency and user experience by reducing delays and ensuring that the application remains responsive.