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. However, they are limited to simple operations.

In what scenarios would you prefer using mutexes over atomic operations?

Mutexes are preferable when you need to protect complex data structures or perform multiple operations atomically, as they can handle more complex scenarios.

Are there any downsides to using atomic operations?

Yes, atomic operations can lead to issues like busy-waiting and may not provide the same level of safety as mutexes in certain situations.

How do I decide which one to use in my application?

Consider the complexity of the operations you need to perform and the performance requirements. For simple, frequent updates, atomic operations are ideal, while mutexes are better for complex interactions.