Can you explain threading and async in C++11 with examples?

Can you explain threading and async in C++11 with examples?

Sure! C++11 introduced several features for threading and asynchronous programming. For example, you can use the std::thread class to create threads.

Can you show me a simple example of using std::thread?

Absolutely! Here's a basic example:

#include <iostream>
#include <thread>

void hello() {
    std::cout << "Hello from thread!" << std::endl;
}

int main() {
    std::thread t(hello);
    t.join(); // Wait for the thread to finish
    return 0;
}

This code creates a thread that runs the hello function.

What about using async? How does that work?

With std::async, you can run tasks asynchronously. Here's an example:

#include <iostream>
#include <future>

int compute() {
    return 42;
}

int main() {
    std::future<int> result = std::async(compute);
    std::cout << "Result: " << result.get() << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

This code runs compute in the background and retrieves the result when it's ready.

Are there any potential issues with threading in C++?

Yes, threading can lead to issues like race conditions, deadlocks, and resource contention. It's important to use synchronization mechanisms like mutexes to avoid these problems.