What are the use cases for semaphore and mutex in programming?

What are the use cases for semaphore and mutex in programming?

Semaphores and mutexes are synchronization primitives used to manage access to shared resources in concurrent programming. Semaphores can allow multiple threads to access a resource, while mutexes provide exclusive access.

Can you give me an example of when to use a semaphore?

Sure! A semaphore is useful in a scenario like a print queue where multiple threads can print documents, but you want to limit the number of concurrent prints to avoid overloading the printer.

And what about mutex? When should I use that?

You should use a mutex when you need to ensure that only one thread can access a resource at a time, such as updating a shared variable or writing to a file.

Are there any downsides to using these synchronization methods?

Yes, using semaphores and mutexes can lead to issues like deadlocks if not managed properly, and they can introduce overhead that may affect performance.