# Interrupt

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## What is an Interrupt?

* An **event generated by hardware or software** in a computer system.
* Interrupts suspend the current program's flow and **allow the system to handle another event or operation**.
* Interrupts are used to manage **system responsiveness** and **multitasking**.

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## When Do Interrupts Occur?

### Hardware Interrupt

* Generated by external hardware devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, timer, etc.) when they need attention.
* Through this, the system can interact with the device or perform necessary operations.

### Software Interrupt

* Explicitly generated by a program, or by exceptional situations (e.g., division by zero, memory access error, etc.).
* Used to handle abnormal program behavior or errors.

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## Summary

* Interrupt handling is performed by the operating system or hardware.
* When an interrupt occurs, the currently executing operation is suspended, and the system handles the interrupt.
* Afterward, the previous operation may resume or switch to another operation.
* Interrupts are an important concept for maintaining system efficiency, responsiveness, and stability, and are supported by various operating systems and computer architectures.
