How do you trigger an interrupt?
Emily Wilson
Updated on March 22, 2026
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Correspondingly, how can an interrupt be generated?
Interrupt signals can cause a program to suspend itself temporarily to service the interrupt. Interrupts can also be generated by other devices, such as a printer, to indicate that some event has occurred. These are called hardware interrupts. Interrupt signals initiated by programs are called software interrupts.
Secondly, can interrupts be interrupted? Normally, an interrupt service routine proceeds until it is complete without being interrupted itself in most of the systems. This "interrupt of an interrupt" is called a nested interrupt. It is handled by stopping execution of the original service routine and storing another sequence of registers on the stack.
Consequently, how does the software trigger an interrupt?
Hardware may trigger an interrupt at any time by sending a signal to the CPU, usually by the way of the system bus. Software may trigger an Interrupt by executing a special operation called a system call. Software interrupts or Traps as they are called are initiated as system calls.
What happens when interrupt occurs?
When an interrupt occurs, it causes the CPU to stop executing the current program. When an interrupt is generated, the processor saves its execution state via a context switch, and begins executing the interrupt handler at the interrupt vector.
Related Question AnswersWhat is the synonym of interrupt?
Synonyms: disrupt, disturb, trouble, break up, touch, raise up, vex, cut off, stir up, commove, shake up, break, agitate, upset. interrupt, disrupt(verb)What are the types of interrupt?
There are mainly three types of interrupts:- External interrupts: It arises due to external call from I/O devices.
- Internal interrupts: It arises due to illegal and erroneous use of an instruction or data.
- Software interrupts: It is initiated by executing an instruction.