What are the differences between mutexes and locks in C11?

What are the differences between mutexes and locks in C11?

In C11, mutexes are a type of lock specifically designed for mutual exclusion, ensuring that only one thread can access a resource at a time. Locks, in general, can refer to various synchronization mechanisms, including mutexes, but may also include other types like reader-writer locks.

Can you explain how to use a mutex in C11?

To use a mutex in C11, you typically include the <threads.h> header, declare a mtx_t mutex variable, and use mtx_init to initialize it. You can then lock it with mtx_lock before accessing shared resources and unlock it with mtx_unlock after you're done.

What happens if a thread tries to lock a mutex that is already locked?

If a thread tries to lock a mutex that is already locked, it will block and wait until the mutex becomes available. This prevents multiple threads from entering critical sections simultaneously.

Are there any performance considerations when using mutexes?

Yes, using mutexes can introduce overhead due to context switching and blocking. It's important to minimize the time spent holding a mutex and consider alternatives like lock-free programming when performance is critical.