A signal that is generated by a device to signal that it requires CPU intervention.  These requests are processed by an Interrupt Controller and passed to the CPU one at a time.

When devices prompt the CPU for processing attention.

An IRQ is a request to service a particular hardware device or update a specific section of the program. When an IRQ occurs the appropriate ISR will be called to service the request. [Section 6.1.4

a message, usually sent from a hardware device within/ connected to your computer (eg Hard Disk, printer etc) via a dedicated line to the Central Processing Unit (CPU) of your system

a request made to the processor by any input device requiring its attention

a signal from a hardware device on your computer to your CPU

a signal sent to the CPU by a device or program for time critical events

An IRQ is a value placed on a device that provides the computer with a signal when the device begins or ends a task in order to allow the computer to determine what should be done next. Each IRQ has a number assigned to it. A PC has 16 IRQs available, numbered from 0 to 15. If there is an IRQ conflict, two devices have been assigned the same number.

Signal from hardware to the CPU. An interrupt controller assigns priorities to incoming IRQs and delivers them to the CPU. Similar to DMA, if more than one piece of hardware sends IRQ signals on the same line (number), the result is an IRQ conflict that will cause many problems, which means it is imperative that you properly assign IRQ numbers when installing new hardware. Plug and Play devices elimiate the need for this.

A signal sent by a device to get the attention of the processor when the device is ready to accept or send information. Each device sends its interrupt requests over a specific hardware line, numbered from 0 to 15. Each device must be assigned a unique IRQ number.

Within a PC, a signal sent from a device to the CPU to temporarily suspend normal processing and transfer control to an interrupt handling routine.

Network boards are supplied with default settings for the IRQ, I/O port and base memory address. An IRQ is a signal protocol used by hardware devices, such as printers and modems, to let the system know that they need some attention. When an IRQ is invoked, the CPU puts its other work "on hold" and services the needs of the interrupting device.

A method by which a device can request to be serviced by the device's software driver. The system board uses a programmable interrupt controller to monitor the priority of the requests from all devices.

A means for devices to request time from the processor to do their jobs. For instance, every time you hit a key on your keyboard an interrupt is generated...

A signal sent to the central processing unit to temporarily suspend normal processing and transfer control to an interrupt handling routine. Interrupts may be generated by conditions such as completion of an I/O process, detection of hardware failure, and power failures.

The line used by the expansion card to make a "request" of the central processor (CPU).

Usually abbreviated IRQ. A signal generated by an adapter card in the PC that alerts the CPU to handle incoming data from the keyboard, mouse, serial port or parallel port. J - N

Communications line between a device and the processor. 8.13

In computing, an interrupt request (or IRQ) is a phrase used to refer to either the act of interrupting the bus lines used to signal an interrupt, or the interrupt input lines on a Programmable Interrupt Controller (PIC). Interrupt lines are often identified by an index with the format of IRQ followed by a number. For example, on the Intel 8259 family of PICs there are eight interrupt inputs commonly referred to as IRQ0 through IRQ7.