What is the purpose of an interrupt in an operating system?

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What is the purpose of an interrupt in an operating system?

The purpose of an interrupt in an operating system is to temporarily suspend the execution of a program and transfer control to a specific routine or function, known as an interrupt handler. Interrupts are used to handle various events or conditions that require immediate attention, such as hardware errors, user input, or completion of I/O operations. By using interrupts, the operating system can efficiently manage and prioritize tasks, ensuring timely response to critical events and improving overall system performance.