What are atomic variables and how do they perform in concurrent programming?

What are atomic variables and how do they perform in concurrent programming?

Atomic variables are variables that are accessed and modified as a single, indivisible operation. They are crucial in concurrent programming to prevent race conditions.

Can you explain how they differ from regular variables?

Unlike regular variables, atomic variables ensure that operations on them are completed without interruption, making them thread-safe.

What are some examples of atomic variables in programming languages?

In Java, for instance, you have classes like AtomicInteger and AtomicBoolean. In C++, you can use std::atomic.

How do atomic variables impact performance?

Atomic variables can improve performance by reducing the need for locks, but they may introduce overhead due to memory barriers.