Interrupts play a crucial role in embedded systems, allowing the processor to respond quickly to important events. They act as signals that temporarily halt the main program execution to attend to high-priority tasks, such as input from sensors or communication from external devices. When an interrupt occurs, the processor pauses its current task, saves its state, and executes a special function known as an interrupt service routine (ISR) to handle the event. Once the ISR is completed, the processor resumes the original task.

This mechanism is vital for efficient real-time processing in embedded systems. Without interrupts, the system would need to continuously poll for events, wasting valuable processing power. Interrupts allow the system to remain idle or execute other tasks until something important occurs, ensuring optimal performance and responsiveness.

In embedded systems programming, understanding how to configure and manage interrupts is key. Developers often use interrupts to handle tasks like reading sensors, controlling motors, or managing communication protocols.

For those seeking to improve their knowledge, an embedded system certification course can provide structured learning, covering essential topics such as interrupts, memory management, and real-time operating systems. This can help professionals gain expertise and enhance their skills in embedded systems design.