How do counting semaphores work?

Can you explain how counting semaphores work in programming?

Sure! Counting semaphores are synchronization tools used to control access to a shared resource by multiple threads. They maintain a count that represents the number of available resources.

How do they differ from binary semaphores?

Great question! Binary semaphores can only take values of 0 or 1, while counting semaphores can take any non-negative integer value, allowing them to manage multiple resources.

Can you give me an example of where counting semaphores might be used?

Absolutely! A common use case is in a connection pool, where a counting semaphore can limit the number of concurrent connections to a database.

What happens if a thread tries to acquire a semaphore when none are available?

If a thread tries to acquire a counting semaphore that has reached zero, it will block until another thread releases a semaphore, increasing the count.