Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from [[Latin]] interruptus, past participle of interrumpere, from inter- + rumpere to break  

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from [[Latin]] interruptus, past participle of interrumpere, from inter- + rumpere to break  

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_century 15th Century]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_century 15th Century]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1: to stop or hinder by breaking in <interrupted the [[speaker]] with frequent questions>

*1: to stop or hinder by breaking in <interrupted the [[speaker]] with frequent questions>

*1: to break in upon an [[action]]; especially : to break in with questions or remarks while another is [[speaking]]  

*1: to break in upon an [[action]]; especially : to break in with questions or remarks while another is [[speaking]]  

==Description==

==Description==

In computing, an '''interrupt''' is an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asynchronous_communication asynchronous] signal indicating the need for [[attention]] or a synchronous [[event]] in software indicating the need for a [[change]] in [[execution]].

In computing, an '''interrupt''' is an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asynchronous_communication asynchronous] signal indicating the need for [[attention]] or a synchronous [[event]] in software indicating the need for a [[change]] in [[execution]].

A hardware interrupt causes the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_processing_unit processor] to save its state of [[execution]] and begin execution of an interrupt handler. Software interrupts are usually implemented as instructions in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instruction_set instruction set], which cause a context switch to an interrupt handler similar to a hardware interrupt.

A hardware interrupt causes the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_processing_unit processor] to save its state of [[execution]] and begin execution of an interrupt handler. Software interrupts are usually implemented as instructions in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instruction_set instruction set], which cause a context switch to an interrupt handler similar to a hardware interrupt.

Interrupts are a commonly used [[technique]] for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_multitasking computer multitasking], especially in real-time computing. Such a system is said to be interrupt-driven.

Interrupts are a commonly used [[technique]] for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_multitasking computer multitasking], especially in real-time computing. Such a system is said to be interrupt-driven.

An [[act]] of interrupting is referred to as an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interrupt_request interrupt request] (IRQ).

An [[act]] of interrupting is referred to as an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interrupt_request interrupt request] (IRQ).

==Typical uses==

==Typical uses==

Typical uses of interrupts include the following: system timers, disks I/O, power-off signals, and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exception_handling traps]. Other interrupts exist to transfer data bytes using [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UART UART]s or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet Ethernet]; sense key-presses; control motors; or anything else the equipment must do.

Typical uses of interrupts include the following: system timers, disks I/O, power-off signals, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exception_handling traps]. Other interrupts exist to transfer data bytes using [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UART UART]s or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet Ethernet]; sense key-presses; control motors; or anything else the equipment must do.

A classic system [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timer timer] generates interrupts periodically from a counter or the power-line. The interrupt handler counts the interrupts to keep time. The timer interrupt may also be used by the OS's task [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheduling_(computing) scheduler] to reschedule the priorities of running [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Process_(computing) processes]. Counters are popular, but some older computers used the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_line_frequency power line frequency] instead, because power companies in most Western countries control the power-line frequency with a very accurate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_clock atomic clock].

A classic system [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timer timer] generates interrupts periodically from a counter or the power-line. The interrupt handler counts the interrupts to keep time. The timer interrupt may also be used by the OS's task [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheduling_(computing) scheduler] to reschedule the priorities of running [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Process_(computing) processes]. Counters are popular, but some older computers used the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_line_frequency power line frequency] instead, because power companies in most Western countries control the power-line frequency with a very accurate [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_clock atomic clock].

A disk interrupt signals the completion of a data transfer from or to the disk peripheral. A process waiting to read or write a file starts up again.

A disk interrupt signals the completion of a data transfer from or to the disk peripheral. A process waiting to read or write a file starts up again.

A power-off interrupt predicts or requests a loss of power. It allows the computer equipment to perform an orderly shut-down.

A power-off interrupt predicts or requests a loss of power. It allows the computer equipment to perform an orderly shut-down.

Interrupts are also used in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typeahead typeahead] features for buffering events like [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystrokes keystrokes].

Interrupts are also used in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typeahead typeahead] features for buffering events like [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystrokes keystrokes].

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: Computer Science]]

[[Category: Computer Science]]