What are the advanced features of stdatomic in C++?

What are the advanced features of stdatomic in C++?

The stdatomic library in C++ provides atomic operations for data types, ensuring thread safety. Advanced features include atomic flags, load/store operations, and memory order semantics.

Can you explain memory order semantics?

Memory order semantics define how operations on atomic variables are seen by other threads. The main types are relaxed, acquire, release, and sequentially consistent.

What is the difference between acquire and release?

Acquire ensures that all previous reads/writes are completed before the acquire operation, while release ensures that all previous writes are visible to other threads before the release operation.

Are there any performance considerations when using stdatomic?

Yes, using stdatomic can introduce overhead due to memory barriers. It's important to balance thread safety with performance needs.

Can you give an example of using atomic flags?

Sure! An atomic flag can be used to implement a simple lock. You can set the flag to true when entering a critical section and check it before proceeding.