system call

2 definitions found

system call - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  system call
      n 1: an instruction that interrupts the program being executed
           and passes control to the supervisor [syn: system call,
           supervisor call instruction]

system call - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  system call
  
     <operating system, programming> The mechanism used by an
     application program to request service from the operating system
     .  System calls often use a special machine code
     instruction which causes the processor to change mode (e.g. to
     "supervisor mode" or "protected mode").  This allows the OS
     to perform restricted actions such as accessing hardware
     devices or the memory management unit.
  
     (1995-03-01)