How do I use std::lock_guard in C++?

What is std::lock_guard in C++?

std::lock_guard is a RAII-style mechanism for managing mutex locks in C++. It ensures that a mutex is locked when the lock_guard is created and automatically unlocked when it goes out of scope.

How do I implement std::lock_guard in my code?

To use std::lock_guard, include the header <mutex>, create a mutex object, and then create a lock_guard object by passing the mutex to its constructor. This will lock the mutex.

Can you show me a code example?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

#include <iostream>
#include <mutex>

std::mutex mtx;

void safeFunction() {
    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mtx);
    // critical section
    std::cout << "Thread-safe operation" << std::endl;
}

What happens if I forget to unlock the mutex?

If you forget to unlock the mutex, it can lead to deadlocks or resource contention issues. Using std::lock_guard helps prevent this by ensuring the mutex is always unlocked when the lock_guard goes out of scope.