megszakít

Megszakít, in Hungarian, translates to "interrupt" in English. It is a term used in computing and electronics to describe a signal that temporarily stops the execution of a normal program sequence, causing the system to switch to a special routine called an interrupt handler. This handler then performs a specific task before returning control to the interrupted program.

Interrupts are fundamental to modern operating systems and hardware. They are used for a variety of purposes, including handling input from devices like keyboards and mice, responding to timer events, managing communication protocols, and dealing with errors or exceptional conditions. Without interrupts, a processor would have to constantly poll devices to check if they require attention, which would be highly inefficient.

There are different types of interrupts. Hardware interrupts are generated by external devices signaling the CPU that they need attention. Software interrupts, on the other hand, are intentionally generated by a program, often to request a service from the operating system's kernel, such as file access or memory allocation.

When an interrupt occurs, the CPU suspends the current task and saves its state, including the program counter and register values. It then identifies the source of the interrupt and executes the corresponding interrupt service routine. Once the routine is complete, the CPU restores the saved state and resumes the interrupted program as if nothing had happened. This mechanism allows for efficient multitasking and responsiveness in computer systems.