What are the differences between atomic operations and mutexes?

What are the differences between atomic operations and mutexes?

Atomic operations are indivisible and ensure that a variable is updated without interruption, while mutexes are locks that control access to shared resources.

Can you give an example of when to use atomic operations?

Sure! Use atomic operations for simple counters or flags where you need quick updates without the overhead of locking.

And when should I use mutexes instead?

Mutexes are better for complex data structures or when multiple threads need to read and write shared data safely.

Are there any performance differences between them?

Yes, atomic operations are generally faster due to less overhead, but mutexes provide more control for complex scenarios.

What are some common pitfalls when using mutexes?

Common pitfalls include deadlocks, priority inversion, and forgetting to unlock a mutex, which can lead to performance issues.