How does thread synchronization affect performance in multi-threaded applications?

How does thread synchronization affect performance in multi-threaded applications?

Thread synchronization can significantly impact performance by introducing overhead. When threads are synchronized, they may have to wait for each other to access shared resources, which can lead to bottlenecks.

What are some common synchronization mechanisms?

Common synchronization mechanisms include mutexes, semaphores, and condition variables. Each has its own use cases and performance implications.

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. When a thread locks a mutex, other threads attempting to lock it will be blocked until it's unlocked.

What are the performance trade-offs of using semaphores?

Semaphores can allow multiple threads to access a resource simultaneously, which can improve performance. However, they can also lead to complexity and potential deadlocks if not managed carefully.