Learn Mutex in C++ with Examples and Tutorials

What is a Mutex?

A Mutex, short for mutual exclusion, is a programming concept that is used to prevent two or more threads from accessing shared resources simultaneously. In C++, a Mutex is implemented as a synchronization primitive that provides exclusive access to a shared resource.

How to use a Mutex in C++?

In order to use a Mutex in C++, you need to include the <mutex> header file. The following code snippet demonstrates how to use a Mutex to protect a shared variable:

#include <iostream>
#include <mutex>

std::mutex mutex;

int shared_variable = 0;

void increment_shared_variable()
{
    mutex.lock();
    shared_variable++;
    mutex.unlock();
}

int main()
{
    std::thread thread1(increment_shared_variable);
    std::thread thread2(increment_shared_variable);

    thread1.join();
    thread2.join();

    std::cout << "Shared variable value: " << shared_variable << std::endl;

    return 0;
}

In this example, the mutex.lock() call ensures that only one thread can access the shared variable at a time. Once a thread has finished modifying the shared variable, the mutex.unlock() call releases the Mutex so that other threads can access the shared variable.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a Mutex is an important synchronization primitive that is used to prevent race conditions in multithreaded C++ programs. By using a Mutex to protect shared resources, you can ensure that your program behaves correctly and avoids unexpected behavior. With the help of tutorials and examples, learning Mutex in C++ can be a straightforward process that will greatly improve the quality of your code.