What are some examples of standard locking mechanisms in programming?

What are some examples of standard locking mechanisms in programming?

Standard locking mechanisms include mutexes, semaphores, and read-write locks. Would you like to know more about any specific one?

Can you explain how a mutex works?

A mutex, or mutual exclusion, is a locking mechanism that ensures only one thread can access a resource at a time, preventing race conditions.

What is the difference between a mutex and a semaphore?

A mutex allows only one thread to access a resource, while a semaphore can allow multiple threads to access a limited number of resources.

When should I use a read-write lock?

Use a read-write lock when you have multiple threads reading data and fewer threads writing, as it allows concurrent reads while ensuring exclusive writes.