IRQ, Interrupt Request

IRQ is essentially an assigned location, or default setting that is configured in the system BIOS. It is needed from time to time when an operating system expects hardware to cause an interruption in which details are transmitted about the hardware’s operation. For instance, when a scanner completes the capturing of a photo, it transmits notification to the computer. That notification interrupts the computer, enabling it to decide where to go next. Because multiple notifications following the same interruption route may not be understood by the operating system, unique values must be assigned for each hardware unit and its path to the computer. At one time, users were forced to manually set IRQ values when adding new hardware. These days, hardware Plug and Play technology has not only significantly decreased the need of knowledge for these settings, but has also eliminated the hassle of manual configuration.