Interrupt vector

An interrupt vector is the memory address of an interrupt handler, or an index into an array called an interrupt vector tablethat contains the memory addresses of interrupt handlers. When an interrupt is generated, the processor saves its execution state via a context switch, and begins execution of the interrupt handler at the interrupt vector.

See also

• Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller (APIC)
• Programmable Interrupt Controller (PIC)
• Inter-processor interrupt (IPI)
• Interrupt latency
• Non-maskable interrupt (NMI)

External links

• Webopedia definition of 'interrupt vector table'