system calls - TarisMajor/5143-OpSystems GitHub Wiki

System Calls

System calls are the interface between user-level applications and the operating system's kernel. They provide a controlled way for user programs to request services from the kernel, such as accessing hardware, managing memory, or creating and managing processes. System calls enable user programs to perform operations that require privileged access, such as reading from or writing to files, creating network connections, or executing other system-level functions.

System calls are essential for operating system functionality and help ensure security and stability by abstracting low-level hardware details. Common examples of system calls include open(), read(), write(), and exit() in Unix-like operating systems.

Sources:

Tanenbaum, A. S. (2001). Modern Operating Systems. Arpaci-Dusseau, R. H., & Arpaci-Dusseau, A. C. (2018). Operating Systems: Three Easy Pieces.