What are the differences between RWMutex and Mutex in Go?

What are the differences between RWMutex and Mutex in Go?

In Go, a Mutex allows only one goroutine to access a resource at a time, while RWMutex allows multiple readers or one writer.

When should I use RWMutex instead of Mutex?

Use RWMutex when you have many read operations and fewer write operations, as it improves performance by allowing concurrent reads.

Are there any downsides to using RWMutex?

Yes, RWMutex can introduce complexity and potential for deadlocks if not used carefully, especially with many writers.

Can you give an example of using both in Go?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

var mu sync.Mutex
var rw sync.RWMutex

func read() {
    rw.RLock()
    // read operation
    rw.RUnlock()
}

func write() {
    rw.Lock()
    // write operation
    rw.Unlock()
}