What are the best practices for using mutex in Go?

What are the best practices for using mutex in Go?

When using mutex in Go, it's important to lock the mutex as close to the critical section as possible and unlock it as soon as you're done. This minimizes the time the mutex is held, reducing contention.

Can you explain what a critical section is?

A critical section is a part of the code that accesses shared resources and must not be executed by more than one goroutine at a time to prevent data races.

Are there any alternatives to using mutex in Go?

Yes, alternatives include using channels for synchronization, or the sync/atomic package for atomic operations, which can be more efficient in certain scenarios.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when using mutex?

Common mistakes include forgetting to unlock a mutex, causing deadlocks, and holding a mutex while performing long operations, which can lead to performance issues.