在计算机科学中，中断（英语：Interrupt）是指处理器接收到来自硬件或软件的信号，提示发生了某个事件，应该被注意，这种情况就称为中断。

通常，在接收到来自外围硬件（相对于中央处理器和内存）的异步信号，或来自软件的同步信号之后，处理器将会进行相应的硬件／软件处理。发出这样的信号称为进行中断请求（interrupt request，IRQ）。硬件中断导致处理器通过一个运行信息切换（context switch）来保存执行状态（以进程计数器和进程状态字等寄存器信息为主）；软件中断则通常作为CPU指令集中的一个指令，以可编程的方式直接指示这种运行信息切换，并将处理导向一段中断处理代码。中断在计算机多任务处理，尤其是即时系统中尤为有用。这样的系统，包括运行于其上的操作系统，也被称为“中断驱动的”（interrupt-driven）。

In system programming, an interrupt is a signal to the processor emitted by hardware or software indicating an event that needs immediate attention. An interrupt alerts the processor to a high-priority condition requiring the interruption of the current code the processor is executing. The processor responds by suspending its current activities, saving its state, and executing a function called an interrupt handler (or an interrupt service routine, ISR) to deal with the event. This interruption is temporary, and, after the interrupt handler finishes, the processor resumes normal activities. There are two types of interrupts: hardware interrupts and software interrupts.