What are the performance benchmarks of lock-free data structures?

What are the performance benchmarks of lock-free data structures?

Lock-free data structures are designed to allow multiple threads to operate without locking, which can improve performance. Benchmarks typically focus on throughput, latency, and contention levels under various workloads.

How do they compare to traditional locking mechanisms?

Lock-free structures often outperform traditional locking mechanisms in high contention scenarios, as they reduce the overhead of acquiring and releasing locks. However, they can be more complex to implement.

Can you give examples of lock-free data structures?

Sure! Common examples include lock-free queues, stacks, and linked lists. These structures use atomic operations to ensure thread safety without locks.

What are the trade-offs of using lock-free structures?

The main trade-offs include increased complexity in implementation and potential for higher CPU usage due to busy-waiting. However, they can significantly reduce latency in multi-threaded applications.