Description: The ‘Interrupt Service Routine’ (ISR) is an essential component in system architecture, responsible for managing interruptions generated by hardware or software. When an interruption occurs, the CPU temporarily halts the execution of the current program and transfers control to the corresponding service routine. This routine is a function invoked to handle the interruption, allowing the operating system to respond to critical events, such as the arrival of data from an input device or the completion of an I/O operation. The ISR is fundamental to ensuring the efficiency and stability of the system, as it enables multiple tasks to run concurrently and allows the system to respond quickly to external events. In a microkernel architecture, where the goal is to minimize the amount of code running in privileged mode, the ISR becomes a key mechanism for communication between different system components, facilitating modularity and scalability. Additionally, the implementation of ISRs in microkernels allows for greater flexibility in resource management, as each routine can be designed to handle different types of interruptions specifically, thus optimizing overall system performance.
