Interrupt

Interrupt is a signal sent to an operating system or processor which causes it to pause immediately and temporarily modify its current behavior. It notifies a computer hardware or software component of an event that needs immediate attention. An interrupt service call is an entry point into a computer program that enables the raising and handling of asynchronous events. When an interrupt occurs, the processor responds to its source; it may save the state of the program being executed, execute the interrupt routine, then resume the original program.

Processors, such as those found in personal computers, constantly monitor for interrupts and can respond to multiple interrupts at the same time. There are two types of interrupts, internal and external. Internal interrupts originate inside the processor, while external interrupts originate from external events or components.

Interrupts are categorized as either hardware interrupts or software interrupts. Hardware interrupts are generated by devices attached to the system via a bus, such as a USB port. On the other hand, software interrupts are generated by software components using instructions from the processor. When an interrupt is triggered, it notifies the processor that it needs to take a specific action, such as stop what it is currently doing and go to a specific set of instructions located at a specific point of memory.

Interrupts are an invaluable tool in programming, since they can save considerable amounts of time and effort. Without them, programs would have to be written to continuously check for user input or hardware failures. This would significantly reduce the efficiency and performance of a system. Interrupts are commonly used in embedded systems, like those found in automated guided vehicles, to allow for the real-time detection of sensor inputs in order to update the system’s control parameters.

The ability to respond to and handle interrupts efficiently is important for any program. As such, when designing interrupt techniques, attention needs to be paid to both the hardware and the software components in order to ensure the system is working as efficiently and as accurately as possible.