What are the best practices for using condition variables in C?

What are the best practices for using condition variables in C?

When using condition variables in C, ensure you always hold the associated mutex when signaling or waiting. This prevents race conditions.

Can you explain why holding the mutex is important?

Holding the mutex is crucial because it ensures that the condition being waited on is valid and prevents other threads from modifying shared data while one thread is waiting.

What happens if I signal a condition variable without holding the mutex?

If you signal a condition variable without holding the mutex, it can lead to undefined behavior, as other threads may not see the correct state of shared data.

Are there any common mistakes to avoid with condition variables?

Yes, common mistakes include forgetting to signal the condition variable, using it without a mutex, and not checking the condition in a loop after waking up.