What are the performance differences between atomic operations and mutexes?

What are the performance differences between atomic operations and mutexes?

Atomic operations are generally faster than mutexes because they avoid the overhead of locking and unlocking.

Can you explain why atomic operations are faster?

Sure! Atomic operations are executed in a single step, preventing context switches and reducing contention.

Are there any scenarios where mutexes are preferred over atomic operations?

Yes, mutexes are better for complex operations that require multiple steps or when you need to protect shared resources.

What about scalability? How do they compare in multi-threaded environments?

In multi-threaded environments, atomic operations can scale better due to lower contention, but mutexes can manage more complex interactions.