What is the difference between mutexes and semaphores?

What is the difference between mutexes and semaphores?

Mutexes and semaphores are both synchronization primitives used in concurrent programming, but they serve different purposes. A mutex (mutual exclusion) is used to ensure that only one thread can access a resource at a time, while a semaphore can allow multiple threads to access a resource up to a certain limit.

Can you give me an example of when to use each?

Sure! Use a mutex when you need to protect a critical section of code that should not be executed by more than one thread at a time. Use a semaphore when you want to limit the number of threads that can access a resource, like a connection pool.

Are there any performance differences between them?

Yes, mutexes can be more efficient for protecting a single resource since they have less overhead. Semaphores can introduce more complexity and overhead due to their counting mechanism, especially when managing multiple threads.

What happens if a mutex is not released?

If a mutex is not released, it can lead to a deadlock situation where other threads are blocked indefinitely, waiting for the mutex to be released.