What is an interrupt?
Q: What is an interrupt?
A: An interrupt is an action taken by a microprocessor that is not part of the program being executed due to external events.
Q: What causes interrupts to occur most often on a processor?
A: Interrupts occur most often on a processor due to receiving signals from hardware.
Q: Can interrupts be caused by software?
A: Yes, interrupts can also be caused by software that is running parallel to the program being executed.
Q: List a few examples of events that could cause an interrupt.
A: Examples of events that could cause an interrupt are pressing keys on a keyboard, a timer going off, and data transfers taking place.
Q: Is an interrupt dependent on where the program is executing?
A: No, interrupts can occur at any time during program execution regardless of where the program is in its source code.
Q: Is an interrupt a desirable event for a microprocessor?
A: Interrupts are usually undesirable events for a microprocessor since they disrupt the execution of the program and require immediate attention.
Q: How does a microprocessor respond to an interrupt?
A: A microprocessor temporarily suspends the program being executed and executes an interrupt service routine (ISR) to handle the interrupt before returning to the program being executed.
