System Calls

 System Calls:

System calls provide an interface between the process and the operating system. System calls allow user-level processes to request some services from the operating system which process itself is not allowed to do. In handling the trap, the operating system will enter in the kernel mode, where it has access to privileged instructions, and can perform the desired service on the behalf of user-level process. It is because of the critical nature of operations that the operating system itself does them every time they are needed. For example: For input/output a process involves a system call telling the operating system to read or write particular area and this request is satisfied by the operating system.

System programs provide basic functioning to users so that they do not need to write their own environment for program development (editors, compilers) and program execution (shells).

Figure: System Calls 


Any single-CPU computer can execute only one instruction at a time. If process is running a user program in user mode and needs a system service, such as reading data from a file, it has to execute a trap instruction to transfer control to the operating system. The operating system then figures out what the calling process wants by inspecting the parameters. Then it carries out the system calls and return control to the instruction follow the system call. In a sense, making a system call is like making a special type of procedure call, only system calls enter the kernel and procedure calls do not.

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