What are condition variables in programming?

Can you explain what condition variables are in programming?

Condition variables are synchronization primitives that enable threads to wait until a particular condition occurs.

How do they differ from mutexes?

Mutexes are used to protect shared data, while condition variables allow threads to wait for certain conditions to be met.

Can you give me an example of how to use a condition variable?

Sure! In C++, you can use std::condition_variable along with a mutex to manage thread synchronization.

What happens if a condition variable is signaled but no threads are waiting?

If no threads are waiting, the signal is lost, and the condition variable will not wake any threads.