What is the difference between mutex and read-write locks?

What is the difference between mutex and read-write locks?

Mutexes are used for exclusive access to a resource, while read-write locks allow multiple readers or one writer.

Can you explain when to use a read-write lock instead of a mutex?

Use a read-write lock when you have many read operations and few write operations, as it improves concurrency.

What are the performance implications of using read-write locks?

Read-write locks can improve performance in read-heavy scenarios but may introduce overhead in write-heavy situations.

Are there any downsides to using read-write locks?

Yes, they can lead to complexity and potential deadlocks if not managed properly, especially with many threads.