Python: os.system vs subprocess.call - Key Differences & Security

The main difference between 'os.system' and 'subprocess.call' in Python lies in how they execute commands: 'os.system' executes a command in a subshell, while 'subprocess.call' creates a new process and interacts with it through pipes.

'os.system' returns the exit status of the command, whereas 'subprocess.call' returns the return code of the process. Furthermore, 'subprocess.call' offers finer control over process execution, allowing you to specify the working directory, environment variables, and redirect input and output.

Moreover, 'subprocess.call' is considered more secure than 'os.system' as it enables specifying arguments as a list, effectively preventing shell injection attacks.