Definition · foundations
interrupt
interrupt is a signal that pauses or stops an agent so its state can be inspected, changed, or resumed. You can spot interrupt in practice when the record shows what the system observes, what choice it makes, and what changes next, without asking the reader to guess or trust a slogan.
157 definitions656 sourced recordsNamed source: ACL Anthology
Why does interrupt matter?
An interrupt lets new input pause or change active work. The system must save enough state to resume safely. For interrupt, start with three checks: What can the system observe? What choice can it make? What changes after it acts? The answers should point to visible evidence, not a promise.
What does interrupt look like?
A user stops a booking agent before payment and changes the travel date. This example makes interrupt visible by naming the actor, the action, and the result in practice. It is an illustration for readers, not a claim that every product behaves this way.
What is interrupt easy to confuse with?
An interrupt pauses or redirects a run. A circuit breaker stops work when a set risk limit is hit. The closest entries here are indirect prompt injection, judge model, circuit breaker. Compare their definitions with interrupt before using the names as if they mean the same thing.
How certain is this definition?
This definition is provisional. ACL Anthology supports the version you see today, but a better or more direct source may change it. Open the cited page and check its date before you use this entry to choose a product, write a policy, set a safety control, or design a system.
Who introduced the term interrupt?
We have not verified who first introduced interrupt. The source supports a useful definition, but it may not be the earliest use. Until a dated primary record settles the question, we leave the origin open. A popular article or product page is not enough to name the person who coined a term.
What should you understand before interrupt?
Read artificial intelligence (AI) first when interrupt depends on a more basic idea or mechanism. The link gives you a useful route through the glossary. It does not mean every author teaches the subject in this order, so follow the source when the sequence matters.
What should this term help you answer?
Use interrupt to ask what an agent can observe, decide, change, remember, or hand off. The questions below turn the definition into a practical check. They are prompts for your own work, not claims made by the source, so change them to fit the system you are examining.
- What can the system observe?
- What choice can it make?
- What changes after it acts?
Which source supports this definition of interrupt?
ACL Anthology supports this working definition of interrupt. We checked the link on 2026-07-12. Open the original record for its context, methods, limits, and publication details. The short explanation here is a guide to interrupt; the linked source remains the evidence to inspect when the wording or boundary matters.
source foundinterruptChecked 2026-07-12→