What is semaphore initialization in programming?

What is semaphore initialization in programming?

Semaphore initialization is the process of setting up a semaphore, which is a synchronization tool used to control access to a common resource in concurrent programming.

How do you initialize a semaphore in C?

In C, you can initialize a semaphore using the sem_init function, specifying the semaphore, its shared attribute, and the initial value.

Can you give me a code example?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

#include <semaphore.h>
#include <stdio.h>

sem_t mySemaphore;

int main() {
    sem_init(&mySemaphore, 0, 1); // Initialize semaphore with value 1
    // Your code here
    sem_destroy(&mySemaphore); // Clean up
    return 0;
}

What are the common use cases for semaphores?

Common use cases for semaphores include managing access to shared resources like databases, controlling the number of threads accessing a resource, and implementing producer-consumer scenarios.