Programmabbrüche

Programmabbrüche, also known as program interruptions, are events that cause a computer program to halt its normal execution. These interruptions can be categorized into two main types: hardware interrupts and software interrupts. Hardware interrupts are triggered by external hardware devices, such as a keyboard or a network card, to signal that they require attention. Software interrupts, on the other hand, are initiated by the software itself, often to request an operating system service or to handle exceptions.

Interrupts play a crucial role in modern computing, allowing for efficient multitasking and real-time processing. When an interrupt occurs, the current program's state is saved, and the control is transferred to an interrupt service routine (ISR). The ISR handles the interrupt and then restores the original program's state, allowing it to resume execution.

Programmabbrüche can also be caused by exceptions, which are errors or unusual conditions that occur during program execution. These can range from simple errors, like division by zero, to more complex issues, such as memory access violations. When an exception occurs, the operating system typically terminates the program to prevent it from causing further damage.

In some cases, programmabbrüche can be handled gracefully by the program itself, using exception handling mechanisms provided by programming languages. This allows the program to recover from errors and continue execution, improving overall system reliability. However, not all programmabbrüche can be handled in this way, and some may still require the program to be terminated.