What is a semaphore in C#?

What is a semaphore in C#?

A semaphore in C# is a synchronization primitive that controls access to a resource by multiple threads.

How do I implement a semaphore in my C# application?

You can implement a semaphore using the Semaphore class in the System.Threading namespace. Here's a basic example.

Can you show me a code example?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

using System;
using System.Threading;

class Program
{
    static Semaphore semaphore = new Semaphore(2, 2);

    static void Main()
    {
        for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++)
        {
            Thread t = new Thread(AccessResource);
            t.Start(i);
        }
    }

    static void AccessResource(object id)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"Thread {id} is waiting to access the resource...");
        semaphore.WaitOne(); // Wait until it is safe to enter
        Console.WriteLine($"Thread {id} has entered the resource.");
        Thread.Sleep(2000); // Simulate some work
        Console.WriteLine($"Thread {id} is leaving the resource.");
        semaphore.Release(); // Release the semaphore
    }
}

What are the advantages of using semaphores?

Semaphores help prevent race conditions, manage resource access, and improve application performance by allowing controlled concurrency.