What are mutexes and condition variables in programming?

What are mutexes and condition variables in programming?

Mutexes are used to ensure that only one thread can access a resource at a time, preventing data races. Condition variables allow threads to wait for certain conditions to be true before continuing execution.

Can you explain how mutexes work with an example?

Sure! Imagine two threads trying to update a shared bank account balance. A mutex locks the account while one thread updates it, ensuring the other thread waits until the lock is released.

What about condition variables? How do they fit in?

Condition variables are used in conjunction with mutexes. They allow a thread to wait for a specific condition to be met, like waiting for a buffer to have data before processing it.

Are there any drawbacks to using mutexes and condition variables?

Yes, they can lead to issues like deadlocks if not managed properly, where two threads are waiting on each other indefinitely.