Engineering English
Interrupt Service Routine
Electronics Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: A subroutine invoked in response to a hardware interrupt to handle a specific event promptly. It must execute quickly and then return control to the main program.
Example in context
“The ISR must be kept short to avoid missing subsequent interrupts and to maintain real-time performance.”
“ISR, sonraki kesmeleri kaçırmamak ve gerçek zamanlı performansı korumak için kısa tutulmalıdır.”
Where engineers use it
Used in interrupt-driven firmware where an external event triggers a microcontroller to execute a specific handler. Engineers implement ISRs to service peripherals quickly, ensuring minimal latency and proper system responsiveness.
Synonyms: interrupt handler
Practice: can you use “Interrupt Service Routine” at work?
You are debugging a timer interrupt that occasionally hangs. Analyze the ISR code to identify blocking operations and suggest optimizations.
Show a model answer
“Explain how you would minimize execution time in an Interrupt Service Routine.”
“Interrupt Service Routine” in 21 languages
| English | Interrupt Service Routine |
|---|---|
| Turkish | Kesme Hizmet Rutini |
| French | Routine de service d'interruption |
| German | Interrupt-Service-Routine |
| Spanish | Rutina de servicio de interrupción |
| Chinese | 中断服务程序 |
| Arabic | روتين خدمة المقاطعة |
| Portuguese | Rotina de serviço de interrupção |
| Russian | Обработчик прерываний |
| Japanese | 割り込みサービスルーチン |
| Italian | Routine di servizio dell'interruzione |
| Vietnamese | Chương trình phục vụ ngắt |
| Hindi | इंटरप्ट सेवा रूटीन |
| Thai | รูทีนบริการการขัดจังหวะ |
| Indonesian | Rutin Layanan Interupsi |
| Korean | 인터럽트 서비스 루틴 |
| Bengali | ইন্টারাপ্ট সার্ভিস রুটিন |
| Dutch | Interrupt serviceroutine |
| Swedish | Avbrottsrutin |
| Finnish | Keskeytyspalvelurutiini |
| Ukrainian | Рутіна обслуговування переривання |
Frequently asked questions
What does Interrupt Service Routine mean in engineering?
A subroutine invoked in response to a hardware interrupt to handle a specific event promptly. It must execute quickly and then return control to the main program. In Electronics Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Interrupt Service Routine?
Interrupt Service Routine is pronounced /ˌɪntərʌpt ˈsɜːrvɪs ruːˈtiːn/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Interrupt Service Routine used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The ISR must be kept short to avoid missing subsequent interrupts and to maintain real-time performance.”
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