How do I use mutexes in Go?

How do I use mutexes in Go?

In Go, you can use the sync.Mutex type to manage concurrent access to shared resources. Would you like a code example?

Yes, please provide a code example.

Here's a simple example:

package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "sync"
)

var (
    counter int
    mu sync.Mutex
)

func increment(wg *sync.WaitGroup) {
    defer wg.Done()
    mu.Lock()
    counter++
    mu.Unlock()
}

func main() {
    var wg sync.WaitGroup
    for i := 0; i < 10; i++ {
        wg.Add(1)
        go increment(&wg)
    }
    wg.Wait()
    fmt.Println("Final counter value:", counter)
}

This code safely increments a counter using a mutex.

What happens if I forget to unlock the mutex?

If you forget to unlock the mutex, it can lead to a deadlock, where other goroutines are blocked and cannot proceed. Always ensure that you unlock the mutex, preferably using a defer statement right after locking it.

Are there any alternatives to mutexes in Go?

Yes, you can use channels for synchronization, which can sometimes be a more idiomatic way to handle concurrency in Go.