What is memory ordering in stdatomic?

Can you explain what memory ordering means in the context of stdatomic?

Memory ordering refers to the rules that determine how operations on shared variables are seen by different threads. In stdatomic, it helps ensure that operations occur in a specific sequence to avoid data races.

What are the different types of memory ordering available in stdatomic?

There are several types of memory ordering in stdatomic: relaxed, acquire, release, and sequentially consistent. Each type provides different guarantees about the visibility of operations across threads.

When should I use each type of memory ordering?

Use relaxed for performance when you don't need synchronization. Acquire and release are used for locking mechanisms, while sequentially consistent is for when you need strong guarantees about operation order.

Can you give an example of using stdatomic with memory ordering?

Sure! For example, if you have a shared variable that multiple threads update, you might use std::atomic<int> with std::memory_order_release when writing and std::memory_order_acquire when reading to ensure proper synchronization.