What are mutexes and condition variables in C?

What are mutexes and condition variables in C?

Mutexes are used to protect shared data from being accessed by multiple threads simultaneously, while condition variables allow threads to wait for certain conditions to be met before continuing execution.

Can you explain how to use a mutex in a C program?

Sure! You can use the pthread library in C. First, initialize a mutex with pthread_mutex_init(), then lock it with pthread_mutex_lock() before accessing shared data, and unlock it with pthread_mutex_unlock() after you're done.

What about condition variables? How do they work?

Condition variables are used in conjunction with mutexes. You can use pthread_cond_wait() to block a thread until a condition is signaled, and pthread_cond_signal() or pthread_cond_broadcast() to wake up waiting threads.

Are there any common pitfalls when using these in C?

Yes, common pitfalls include forgetting to unlock a mutex, which can lead to deadlocks, and using condition variables without proper mutex protection, which can cause race conditions.