What describes the process of repeatedly executing commands until conditions are met?

The process of repeatedly executing commands until certain conditions are met is known as iteration, which is perfectly encapsulated by the term iterative. In programming and computer science, iterative processes are fundamental to algorithms that require repetition, such as loops. These loops can execute a block of code multiple times, modifying variables within each iteration, until a specified condition evaluates to false.

By identifying and using iterative constructs—like "for" loops, "while" loops, or "do-while" loops—programmers can efficiently solve problems that require repetitive tasks or gradual convergence towards a solution. This concept is crucial for tasks such as searching through data sets, calculating values series, or any scenario where a solution must be refined through repeated application of operations.

The other terms provide different meanings; subroutines refer to a set of instructions designed to perform a specific task, lateral thinking involves solving problems through an indirect approach, and inductive reasoning is a logical process where conclusions are drawn from specific examples. These concepts do not pertain to the notion of repeating commands based on conditions, reinforcing why iterative is the appropriate choice for this question.