[′in‚pu̇t ′au̇t‚pu̇t ′int·ə‚rəpt ī‚dent·ə·fə‚kā·shən] (computer science) The ascertainment of the device and channel taking part in the transfer of information into or out of a computer that causes a particular input/output interrupt, and of the status of the device and channel.