What is the difference between a mutex and a lock guard?

What is the difference between a mutex and a lock guard?

A mutex is a synchronization primitive that allows only one thread to access a resource at a time, while a lock guard is a RAII (Resource Acquisition Is Initialization) wrapper that manages the locking and unlocking of a mutex automatically.

Can you explain how a lock guard works?

Sure! A lock guard locks the mutex when it is created and automatically unlocks it when it goes out of scope, ensuring that the mutex is always released.

When should I use a mutex instead of a lock guard?

You should use a mutex when you need fine-grained control over locking and unlocking, while a lock guard is preferable for simpler scenarios where automatic management is beneficial.

Are there any performance differences between the two?

Yes, using a lock guard can reduce the risk of deadlocks and improve code readability, but it may introduce slight overhead due to its automatic management.