Difference Between API And System Call (Comparison Table)

computers

Difference Between API And System Call (Comparison Table)

By Junaid RehmanPublished On: November 3, 2026

An API is also known as an application programming interface.

An API defines how software components integrate with the system’s backend.

A system call is a way for a system to communicate with the low-level hardware of the operating system.

A system call is how a process communicates with the system kernel. The kernel is the big process that performs all the low-level hardware work of the operating system.

Feature	API	System Call
*Definition*	API is a way of communication between the front end and backend of the application.	A System call is the communication of a user or program with the kernel of the operating system
*Sign Up*	When a user signs up through Facebook and Google, it uses an API call to the server of the system	If a user needs hardware access, then it is done with a system call
*Overload*	Puts little overload on the applications.	Puts higher load on the system because of hardware communication.
*Portability*	Higher portable	Not easily portable due to hardware dependence
*Mechanism*	Includes functional calls	Includes hardware interrupts
*Hardware Access*	Does not include direct hardware access	Interacts with the hardware of the system components
*Audience*	Communicates with third-party software	Communicates with system hardware like compilers, etc.
*Example*	Printf(), Google Maps API	fork(), write(), read()