2.1.6

Interrupts

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Interrupts

Interrupts are an essential part of modern computer systems that tell the CPU when something needs attention.

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Interrupts

  • An interrupt is a signal from a piece of software or hardware that tells the CPU that it needs some attention.
  • Interrupts are an efficient way of telling a computer when a job needs to be completed.
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Hardware interrupts

  • Hardware interrupts can occur when an input or output operation completes.
  • Hardware interrupts can also involve errors, like when a printer runs out of paper.
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Software interrupts

  • Software interrupts come from pieces of software that need to terminate or request services from the OS to complete a task.
  • For example, opening a document.
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Alternatives to interrupts

  • One alternative to using interrupts is polling.
  • Polling is when the CPU polls (asks) every piece of software and hardware if it needs anything doing.
  • This would be a very inefficient process.

Jump to other topics

1Components of a Computer

2Software & Software Development

3Exchanging Data

4Data Types, Data Structures & Algorithms

5Legal, Moral, Cultural & Ethical Issues

6Elements of Computational Thinking

6.1Thinking Abstractly

6.2Thinking Ahead

6.3Thinking Procedurally

6.4Thinking Logically

6.5Thinking Concurrently

7Problem Solving & Programming

8Algorithms

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