What is the use of an interrupt in a computer system?

Explanation

An interrupt allows the CPU to temporarily halt its current task to manage urgent tasks, such as handling input/output operations or responding to critical events. This enables the system to quickly address time-sensitive operations. Once the interrupt is managed, the CPU resumes its previous task. 48 www.bankersadda.com | Adda247 App Important Key Points: 1. Interrupts ensure that high-priority tasks, like input/output requests, are addressed immediately. 2. They allow the CPU to efficiently multitask, switching between processes as needed. Knowledge Booster: • Stop CPU tasks: This does not describe an interrupt; the CPU pauses tasks temporarily but resumes them after handling the interrupt. • Allocate memory: Memory management is handled by the operating system, not interrupts. • Save data: Data storage operations are unrelated to interrupts, which manage real-time tasks. • Protect against malware: Interrupts do not provide security; antivirus programs are responsible for malware protection.