What is the difference between a mutex and a lock?

What is the difference between a mutex and a lock?

A mutex (mutual exclusion) is a specific type of lock used to manage access to a resource in concurrent programming. While all mutexes are locks, not all locks are mutexes. Mutexes are typically used to prevent multiple threads from accessing a shared resource simultaneously.

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

Sure! If you have a shared variable that multiple threads need to update, using a mutex ensures that only one thread can modify the variable at a time, preventing data corruption.

Are there any downsides to using mutexes?

Yes, using mutexes can lead to issues like deadlocks if not managed properly. They can also introduce overhead, which may affect performance in highly concurrent systems.

What are some alternatives to mutexes?

Alternatives include reader-writer locks, spinlocks, and atomic operations, each with its own use cases and performance characteristics.