What is the lifetime of a thread in C++?

What is the lifetime of a thread in C++?

In C++, the lifetime of a thread is the duration from its creation until it finishes execution. It can be managed using the std::thread class.

How do I join a thread and why is it important?

Joining a thread using thread.join() ensures that the main thread waits for the thread to finish before proceeding. This is important for resource management and to avoid accessing data that may no longer be valid.

What happens if I don't join a thread?

If you don't join a thread, it may lead to undefined behavior, such as accessing resources that have been released or the program terminating unexpectedly.

Can a thread be detached? What does that mean?

Yes, a thread can be detached using thread.detach(). This means the thread will run independently, and you won't be able to join it later. It's useful for fire-and-forget tasks.