InterruptVector

An interrupt vector is a pointer to a specific routine that handles a particular interrupt event. When an interrupt occurs, the processor consults the interrupt vector table to determine the address of the interrupt service routine (ISR) that should be executed. This table is typically a contiguous block of memory containing the addresses of all the ISRs. Each entry in the table corresponds to a unique interrupt request line (IRQ) or interrupt number.

The interrupt vector table is a crucial component of interrupt handling mechanisms in computer systems. It allows the processor to efficiently and quickly switch from its current task to the code designed to address the interrupt. Without it, the processor would need a more complex and time-consuming process to identify and execute the appropriate handler for each interrupt.

The size and structure of the interrupt vector table vary depending on the architecture of the processor and the operating system. In some systems, the table is initialized by the operating system during boot-up. Other systems might have a fixed interrupt vector table built into the hardware. The concept of interrupt vectors is fundamental to real-time systems, operating system design, and embedded systems where timely and predictable responses to external events are critical.