interruptions

An interruption is an event that causes an ongoing activity to pause, so that a newer event can be addressed.

In computing, interruptions enable asynchronous event handling by the processor. A hardware interrupt is issued by a device to request attention, such as a keyboard, network interface, or timer. A software interrupt, including exceptions and system calls, is generated by software to transfer control to an operating system or runtime. Interrupts are managed by an interrupt controller and an interrupt service routine; the interrupt vector identifies the routine to run. Systems may use priorities to determine which interrupts are serviced first, and masking to block lower-priority interrupts during critical code. Latency, the time from the interrupt event to the start of the handler, affects real-time performance. Some systems disable interrupts during critical sections to prevent nesting, while others support nested or cooperative interrupt handling. Polling is an alternative in which software periodically checks for events rather than relying on interrupts.

In everyday life and communication, interruptions are pauses in one activity to address another, such as a person interrupting a conversation or notifications breaking focus. Persistent interruptions can reduce attention, increase task-switching costs, and impair productivity. Strategies to mitigate them include setting designated focus times, muting devices, using signaling norms, and designing user interfaces that defer non-urgent notifications.

Interruption handling is a fundamental concept across computing, telecommunications, and human interaction, and its management is central to performance, reliability, and user experience.