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What is a System Call? Explain its type : Operating System

It is a method of interaction with the OS through the system programs. It is a technique in which a computer system program requests a service from the OS kernel.

The Application Program Interface (API) helps to connect the OS functions with user programs. It serves as a bridge between a process and the OS, enabling user-level programs to request OS services. System calls may only be accessed using the kernel system, and any software that consumes resources must use system calls.

Types of System call

There are mainly five kinds of system calls. These are classified as follows:

1. Process Control
2. File Management
3. Device Management
4. Information Maintenance
5. Communication

Process Control

It is responsible for file manipulation jobs, including creating files, deleting files, reading, opening, writing, closing, etc.

File Management

It is responsible for file manipulation jobs, including creating files, opening files, deleting files, closing files, etc.

Device Management

These are responsible for device manipulation, including reading from device buffers, writing into device buffers, etc.

Information Maintenance

These are used to manage the data and its share between the OS and the user program. Some common instances of information maintenance are getting time or date, getting system data, setting time or date, setting system data, etc.

Communication

These are used for interprocess communication (IPC). Some examples of IPC are creating, sending, receiving messages, deleting communication connections, etc.