uninterruptible

Uninterruptible is an adjective meaning not able to be interrupted or not subject to interruption. It describes continuity of action, service, or operation, often in contexts where disruption would cause harm, data loss, or safety concerns. The term is used in engineering, computing, and service levels.

Etymology: from un- (not) + interruptible, from Latin interrumpere.

In power systems: Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) provides emergency power when the primary source fails. It typically combines batteries with electronics to switch to the stored energy, allowing equipment to keep running or perform a controlled shutdown. Used in data centers, healthcare, and industrial settings.

In computing: An operation might be described as uninterruptible if it should not be interrupted by signals. In Unix-like systems, processes can enter an uninterruptible sleep state (usually shown as 'D' state) during I/O, where signals are not delivered. In software design, uninterruptible sections use locking or atomic operations to prevent interruption.

In everyday use: describes schedules or commitments that proceed without interruption, or tasks designed to run without user interference.

---