✅ User and Operating-
System Interface
Presented BY:
Dr. P. SARAVANAN,
AP/C.TECH,
SRMIST.
Agenda:
Definition
User Interface (UI)
Operating-System Interface (System Calls)
Types of System Calls
🔚 Summary
Definition:
The User and Operating-System Interface defines how users
interact with the operating system (OS) to control the hardware
and run applications.
This interface acts as a bridge between the user (human) and
the OS kernel (core part of the OS).
User Interface (UI)
The User Interface is the visible part of the OS that allows users to interact with the system.
Type Description Example
Text-based interface where users type
Command-Line Interface (CLI) Windows CMD, Linux Bash
commands.
Uses icons, windows, buttons – easy for
Graphical User Interface (GUI) Windows OS, macOS, Ubuntu Desktop
non-technical users.
Used in smartphones, tablets with
Touch-based Interface Android, iOS
gesture support.
Siri, Alexa (not typical in OS, but
Voice Interface (optional) Interacts via speech commands.
growing)
Purpose:
Execute programs
Access files and folders
Configure settings
Shut down/restart systems
Operating-System Interface
(System Calls)
Applications cannot directly interact with hardware. Instead,
they use System Calls — the OS's programming interface — to
request services.
🔸 What is a System Call?
A system call is a way for a program to request a service from the
OS, such as:
File manipulation (open, read, write)
Process control (create, terminate processes)
Device handling (printer, disk access)
System calls simple Example
🧪 Example (C Language):
int fd = open("file.txt", O_RDONLY);
This code makes a system call to open a file for reading.
System calls Types
Summary:
Component Role
User Interface Enables direct user interaction with the OS (via GUI/CLI).
System Calls (OS Interface) Allows applications to request services from the OS.
