What are the performance differences between stdatomic and mutex?

What are the performance differences between stdatomic and mutex?

The main difference lies in their locking mechanisms. stdatomic provides lock-free atomic operations, while mutex requires locking, which can introduce overhead.

Can you explain when to use stdatomic over mutex?

Use stdatomic when you need simple atomic operations without the overhead of locking. Mutex is better for complex data structures.

What are the potential drawbacks of using stdatomic?

While stdatomic is faster, it can lead to data races if not used carefully. It's also limited to certain operations compared to mutex.

Are there specific scenarios where mutex is preferred?

Yes, mutex is preferred in scenarios requiring complex synchronization, such as protecting shared resources that involve multiple operations.