InterruptsInterrupts can be seen as a number of functions. These functions make the programming much easier, instead of writing a code to print a character you can simply call the interrupt and it will do everything for you. There are also interrupt functions that work with disk drive and otherhardware. We call such functions software interrupts. Interrupts are also triggered by different hardware, these are called hardware interrupts. Currently we are interested in softwareinterrupts only.To make a software interrupt there is an INT instruction, it hasvery simple syntax:

INT valuewhere value can be a number between 0 to 255 (or 0 to 0FFh), generally we will use hexadecimal numbers.You may think that there are only 256 functions, but that is notcorrect. Each interrupt may have sub-functions.To specify a sub-function AH register should be set before calling interrupt. Each interrupt may have up to 256 sub-functions (so we get 256 * 256 = 65536 functions). In general AH register is used, butsometimes other registers maybe in use. Generally other registers are used to pass parameters and data to sub-function.

The following example uses INT 10h sub-function 0Eh to type a "Hello!" message. This functions displays a character on the screen, advancing the cursor and scrolling thescreen as necessary.

==================================================================================#MAKE_COM# ; instruct compiler to make COM file.ORG 100h; The sub-function that we are using; does not modify the AH register on; return, so we may set it only once.MOV AH, 0Eh ; select sub-function.; INT 10h / 0Eh sub-function; receives an ASCII code of the; character that will be printed; in AL register.MOV AL, 'H' ; ASCII code: 72INT 10h ; print it!MOV AL, 'e' ; ASCII code: 101INT 10h ; print it!MOV AL, 'l' ; ASCII code: 108INT 10h ; print it!MOV AL, 'l' ; ASCII code: 108INT 10h ; print it!MOV AL, 'o' ; ASCII code: 111INT 10h ; print it!MOV AL, '!' ; ASCII code: 33INT 10h ; print it!RET ; returns to operating system.

Example:==================================================================================MOV AX,0006 ; Puts value 0006 at register AXMOV BX,0004 ;Puts value 0004 at register BXADD AX,BX ;Adds BX to AX contentsINT 20 ;Causes end of the Program=============================================================================jmp INICIO; Jumps to direction 125Hstring1 DB 'Hello, How are you ?' 0d 0a '$'INICIO: MOV DX, OFFSET string1 ; Copies string to DX register MOV CX,000F ; Times the string will be displayed MOV AH,09 ; Copies 09 value to AH registerLBL: INT 21 ; Displays string DEC CX ; Reduces in 1 CX JCXZ FIM ; If CX is equal to 0 jumps to 0134 JMP LBL ; Jumps to direction 012DFIM: INT 20 ; Ends the program

MOV AH,01 ;Function to change the cursorMOV CX,0007 ;Forms the cursorINT 10 ;Calls for BIOSINT 20 ;Ends the program===========================================================================

INICIO: MOV AH,01 ; Funtion 1 (reads keyboard) INT 21 ; Calls for DOS CMP AL,0D ; Compares if what is read is a carriage return JNZ INICIO ; If it is not, reads another character MOV AH,02 ; Funtion 2 (writes on the screen) MOV DL,AL ; Character to write on AL INT 21 ; Calls for DOS INT 20 ; Ends the programThis program uses DOS 21H interruption. It uses two functions of the same:the first one reads the keyboard (function 1) and the second one writes on the screen. It reads the keyboard characters until it finds a carriage return.

MOV AH,02 ; Function 2 (writes on the screen) MOV DL,BL ; Puts BL value on DL AND DL,0F ; Carries ANDing numbers bit by bit ADD DL,30 ; Adds 30 to Dl CMP DL,3A ; Compares Dl with 3A JL LBL ; Jumps if <0112 direction ADD DL, 07 ; Adds 07 to DLLBL: INT 21 ; Calls for Dos INT 20 ; Ends the program

MOV AH,01 ; Function 1 (reads keyboard) INT 21 ; Calls for Dos MOV DL,AL ; Puts Al value on DL SUB DL,30 ; Subtracts 30 from DL CMP DL,09 ; Compares DL with 09 JLE LBL ; Jumps if <= direction SUB DL,07 ; Subtracts 07 from DLLBL: MOV CL,04 ; Puts 04 value on CL register SHL DL,CL ; It inserts zeros to the right INT 21 ; Calls for Dos SUB AL,30 ; Subtracts 30 from AL CMP AL,09 ; Compares AL with 09 JLE LBL1 ; Jumps if <= 011f direction SUB AL,07 ; Subtracts 07 from ALLBL1: ADD DL,AL ; Adds Al to DL INT 20 ; Ends the ProgramThis program can read two digit hex numbers============================================================================= ;name of the program:one.asm;.model small.stack.codemov AH,1h ;Selects the 1 D.O.S. functionInt 21h ;reads character and return ASCII code to register ALmov DL,AL ;moves the ASCII code to register DLsub DL,30h ;makes the operation minus 30h to convert 0-9 digit numbercmp DL,9h ;compares if digit number it was between 0-9jle digit1 ;If it true gets the first number digit (4 bits long)

sub DL,7h ;If it false, makes operation minus 7h to convert letter A-Fdigit1:mov CL,4h ;prepares to multiply by 16shl DL,CL ; multiplies to convert into four bits upperint 21h ;gets the next charactersub AL,30h ;repeats the conversion operationcmp AL,9h ;compares the value 9h with the content of register ALjle digit2 ;If true, gets the second digit numbersub AL,7h ;If no, makes the minus operation 7hdigit2:add DL,AL ;adds the second number digitmov AH,4CHInt 21h ;21h interruptionEnd ; finishs the program codeThis program reads two characters from the keyboard and prints them on the screen.