How do synchronization primitives work in multithreading?

Can you explain how synchronization primitives work in multithreading?

Sure! Synchronization primitives are tools that help manage access to shared resources in a multithreaded environment. They prevent race conditions and ensure data consistency.

What are some common types of synchronization primitives?

Common types include mutexes, semaphores, condition variables, and barriers. Each serves a different purpose in controlling thread execution.

How does a mutex differ from a semaphore?

A mutex allows only one thread to access a resource at a time, while a semaphore can allow multiple threads to access a resource, up to a specified limit.

Can you give an example of when to use a condition variable?

Certainly! Condition variables are useful when a thread needs to wait for a certain condition to be true before proceeding, such as waiting for a buffer to have data before consuming it.