MASKABLE Meaning and
Definition
-
The term "maskable" refers to the capability of a computer system or device to selectively disable or ignore certain signals or interrupts. It is commonly used in the context of interrupt signals, where certain interrupts can be set as "maskable" or "non-maskable," depending on their priority.
In a maskable system, the device or the operating system has the ability to mask, or block, specific interrupt signals from being processed by the CPU. This means that the system can choose to temporarily ignore lower priority interrupts while processing higher priority ones. The masking of interrupts allows for efficient handling of important tasks without being interrupted by less critical events.
Maskable interrupts are typically used for handling user inputs, such as keyboard or mouse events, where a delay in processing these interrupts would not cause significant issues. On the other hand, non-maskable interrupts (NMI) are reserved for critical events that cannot be ignored, such as power failure or hardware errors. NMIs have higher priority and cannot be masked, ensuring that these events are immediately handled by the system.
Overall, the term "maskable" indicates the selective control over interrupt signals in a computer system, enabling the prioritization of important events while ignoring less critical ones. This capability enhances the efficiency and responsiveness of the system, allowing for better multitasking and overall performance.
Common Misspellings for MASKABLE
- naskable
- kaskable
- jaskable
- mzskable
- msskable
- mwskable
- mqskable
- maakable
- mazkable
- maxkable
- madkable
- maekable
- mawkable
- masjable
- masmable
- maslable
- masoable
- masiable
- maskzble
- masksble
Etymology of MASKABLE
The word "maskable" has its origin in the verb "mask", which comes from the Middle French word "masque" meaning "a disguise" or "a mask". The term eventually made its way into English in the mid-16th century. "Maskable" is the adjective form of "mask" and is formed by adding the suffix "-able", meaning "capable of" or "susceptible to". Thus, "maskable" denotes something that can be masked or concealed.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
