How do I use mutex in Python?

How do I use mutex in Python?

In Python, you can use the threading module to create a mutex. You can use threading.Lock() to create a lock object.

Can you show me a simple example?

Sure! Here's a basic example:

import threading

lock = threading.Lock()

def thread_function():
    with lock:
        # critical section
        print('Thread is running')

thread = threading.Thread(target=thread_function)
thread.start()
thread.join()

What happens if I don't use a mutex?

If you don't use a mutex, multiple threads may access shared resources simultaneously, leading to race conditions and inconsistent data.

Are there any alternatives to mutex in Python?

Yes, you can also use threading.RLock, threading.Semaphore, or higher-level constructs like queue.Queue for thread-safe operations.