What are some examples of atomic operations in C++?

What are some examples of atomic operations in C++?

In C++, atomic operations are provided by the <atomic> header. Examples include std::atomic<int>, std::atomic_flag, and operations like load(), store(), and exchange().

Can you explain how std::atomic<int>::fetch_add works?

Certainly! fetch_add atomically adds a value to the atomic integer and returns the previous value. It's useful for incrementing counters safely in multithreaded environments.

What happens if I use a non-atomic type in a multithreaded program?

Using a non-atomic type can lead to data races, where multiple threads read and write to the same variable simultaneously, causing undefined behavior.

Are there any performance considerations when using atomic operations?

Yes, atomic operations can be slower than non-atomic operations due to the overhead of ensuring thread safety. However, they are often necessary for correct synchronization.