System call Page
System call
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System call (syscall): "A well-defined protocol for user programs to request the kernel to perform privileged operations, including device I/O." (SysPrfBGrg 2021)
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"System call is the mechanism used by an application program to request service from the operating system or more specifically, the operating system kernel. System calls often use a special CPU instruction which causes the processor to transfer control to more privileged code, as previously specified by the more privileged code. This allows the more privileged code to specify where it will be entered as well as important processor state at the time of entry. When the system call is invoked, the program which invoked it is interrupted, and information needed to continue its execution later is saved. The processor then begins executing the higher privileged code, which, by examining processor state set by the less privileged code and/or its stack, determines what is being requested. When it is finished, it returns to the program, restoring the saved state, and the program continues executing."
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See also
* Linux kernel API
External Sites
* g>System call
* wp>System call
Categories
Category
* Category:Computer science
* Category:Computing terminology
* Category:Glossaries of computers
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