Interrupts and Interrupt Handlers

We need a mechanism for the hardware to signal to the kernel when attention is needed.This machanism is called * interrupt*,with special functions called interrupt handlers.

Interrupts

interrupts enable hardware to signal to the processor
The hardware sends the interrupt(electronic signals) into pins on an interrupt controller (a chip in the processor)->make multiple interrupt lines into a single line to the processor->the processor detects this signal and then notify the OS that an interrupt has occurred->The OS services each interrupt with its corresponding handler.

These interrupt values are often called interrupt request(IRQ) lines and each IRQ line is assigned a numeric value.the number generally are dynamically assigned.
IRQ 0 is the timer interrupt
IRQ 1 is the keyboard interrupt.