Assembly Language Questions Medium
The interrupt vector table in Assembly Language serves as a crucial component for handling interrupts in a computer system. It is a data structure that contains a list of memory addresses, known as interrupt vectors, which point to specific interrupt service routines (ISRs) or interrupt handlers.
When an interrupt occurs, such as a hardware event or a software-generated interrupt, the processor suspends its current execution and transfers control to the appropriate ISR specified in the interrupt vector table. The ISR is a subroutine or a set of instructions that handle the specific interrupt request.
The interrupt vector table acts as a lookup table, allowing the processor to quickly determine the appropriate ISR to execute based on the interrupt number or type. Each entry in the table corresponds to a specific interrupt, and the associated memory address points to the starting location of the corresponding ISR.
By using the interrupt vector table, Assembly Language programs can efficiently handle various interrupts, including hardware interrupts like keyboard input, timer events, or disk operations, as well as software-generated interrupts like system calls or exceptions. The table provides a centralized mechanism for organizing and managing interrupt handling routines, allowing for modular and flexible programming.
Overall, the interrupt vector table plays a vital role in Assembly Language by facilitating the efficient handling of interrupts, enabling the system to respond to external events or internal requests promptly and appropriately.