What are the best practices for using mutex in C?

What are the best practices for using mutex in C?

When using mutex in C, it's important to follow best practices like always initializing mutexes, locking them before accessing shared resources, and unlocking them afterward.

Can you explain why it's important to always unlock a mutex?

Unlocking a mutex is crucial to prevent deadlocks and ensure that other threads can access the shared resource. Failing to unlock can lead to resource contention.

What happens if I forget to initialize a mutex?

Forgetting to initialize a mutex can lead to undefined behavior, including crashes or data corruption, as the mutex may not function correctly.

Are there any alternatives to using mutex in C?

Yes, alternatives include using reader-writer locks, semaphores, or atomic operations, depending on the specific use case and performance requirements.