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

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

When using condition variables, ensure to always pair them with a mutex to avoid race conditions.

Can you explain why pairing with a mutex is important?

Pairing with a mutex is crucial because it protects shared data and ensures that only one thread can access it at a time.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when using condition variables?

Common mistakes include forgetting to lock the mutex before waiting on the condition variable and not handling spurious wakeups.

How can I handle spurious wakeups effectively?

To handle spurious wakeups, always use a loop to check the condition after waking up, rather than assuming the condition is met.