Question:
Which component of an operating system provides an interface for users to access its services?
Which component of an operating system provides an interface for users to access its services?
Show Hint
Think of system calls as the API of the operating system. They are the well-defined set of functions that user programs are allowed to call to interact with the OS kernel.
Updated On: Jul 2, 2026
- Device drivers
- Libraries
- System Calls
- Process Control Block
Show Solution
Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
The operating system kernel runs in a privileged mode (kernel mode) to protect its resources, while user applications run in a less privileged mode (user mode).
A user program cannot directly access hardware or perform privileged operations. To do so, it must request the service from the OS.
This request is made through a system call. A system call is the programmatic way in which a computer program requests a service from the kernel of the operating system it is executed on.
When a system call is made, it causes a switch from user mode to kernel mode, allowing the OS to perform the requested task (e.g., read a file, create a new process, send data over the network). Once the task is complete, control is returned to the user program.
Therefore, system calls provide the interface between user processes and the operating system services.
A user program cannot directly access hardware or perform privileged operations. To do so, it must request the service from the OS.
This request is made through a system call. A system call is the programmatic way in which a computer program requests a service from the kernel of the operating system it is executed on.
When a system call is made, it causes a switch from user mode to kernel mode, allowing the OS to perform the requested task (e.g., read a file, create a new process, send data over the network). Once the task is complete, control is returned to the user program.
Therefore, system calls provide the interface between user processes and the operating system services.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Top AP ECET CSE Computer Science and IT Engineering Questions
- Which of the following is a universal gate?
- Which of the following is NOT a combinational circuit?
- A demultiplexer is a device that
- Convert the binary number 110011 into its decimal equivalent.
- The number of select lines required for an 8-to-1 multiplexer is?
View More Questions
Top AP ECET CSE Operating Systems Questions
- Which scheduling algorithm gives each process an equal share of CPU time?
- What is the purpose of a page table?
- Excessive swapping between memory and disk in an OS is referred to as
- The Process Control Block (PCB) contains which of the following information?
- What does the term 'context switching' refer to in an OS?
View More Questions
Top AP ECET CSE Questions
- If the matrix A = \(\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2 & 3 \\ 4 & 5 & 6 \\ 7 & 8 & 9 \end{bmatrix}\), then which of the following is true?
- If A = \(\begin{bmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{bmatrix}\) and the determinant of A is 5, then determinant of the matrix 2A is
- If the matrix A is of order 3x3 and the system of equations AX = B has a unique solution, what can be concluded about the determinant of A?
- If A = \(\begin{bmatrix} x & 3 \\ 2 & 4 \end{bmatrix}\) and A\(^{-1}\) = \(\begin{bmatrix} -2 & 1.5 \\ 1 & -0.5 \end{bmatrix}\), then the value of x is
- If A = \(\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 2 \\ 3 & 4 \end{bmatrix}\) and B = \(\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 1 & 0 \end{bmatrix}\), then \((AB)^T =\)
View More Questions