Interrupt

An interrupt is a signal that temporarily halts a microprocessor's current execution to handle a more urgent task or event. When an interrupt occurs, the processor saves its current state, executes a special interrupt service routine (ISR) to handle the event, then returns to its original task. Interrupts are essential for real-time systems, allowing processors to respond immediately to external events like button presses, sensor readings, or communication signals without constantly checking for these conditions.