What is the difference between a mutex, a queue, and a semaphore?

What is the difference between a mutex, a queue, and a semaphore?

A mutex is a locking mechanism to ensure that only one thread accesses a resource at a time. A semaphore, on the other hand, allows multiple threads to access a limited number of resources. A queue is a data structure that holds items in a specific order, often used for managing tasks.

Can you give me an example of when to use a semaphore?

Sure! Use a semaphore when you have a pool of resources, like database connections, and you want to limit the number of concurrent accesses to, say, 5 connections.

What about using a mutex? When is it appropriate?

A mutex is appropriate when you need to protect shared data from being accessed by multiple threads simultaneously, like updating a shared variable.

How do queues fit into this? Are they used with mutexes or semaphores?

Queues can be used with both mutexes and semaphores. A mutex can protect the queue from concurrent modifications, while a semaphore can control the number of threads that can access the queue.