system call

noun

A function provided by an operating system to allow userspace programs access to privileged features, such as accessing the system's hardware.

“After a system call, control is returned to the process.”

Similar
supervisor call instruction
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Meanings

nounsystem call (plural system calls)

plural system calls

  1. computingA function provided by an operating system to allow userspace programs access to privileged features, such as accessing the system's hardware.

    The OS provides a system call to open a file, returning file descriptor that can be used to access it.

  2. computingA particular invocation of an operating-system-provided system-call function.

    After a system call, control is returned to the process.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounan instruction that interrupts the program being executed and passes control to the supervisor

Similar
supervisor call instruction
Broader
call

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

system call. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/system%20call

MLA

“system call.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/system%20call. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “system call,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/system%20call.

Source: system call on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.