What are the differences between mutex and condition variables?

Can you explain the differences between mutex and condition variables?

Sure! A mutex is a locking mechanism that prevents multiple threads from accessing a shared resource simultaneously, ensuring data integrity.

What about condition variables? How do they relate to mutexes?

Condition variables are used for signaling between threads. They allow threads to wait for certain conditions to be true, often used in conjunction with mutexes.

Can you give an example of when to use each?

Certainly! Use a mutex when you need to protect shared data from concurrent access. Use a condition variable when a thread needs to wait for a specific condition to be met before proceeding.

Are there any performance considerations I should be aware of?

Yes, using mutexes can lead to contention if many threads are trying to access the same resource. Condition variables can help reduce this by allowing threads to sleep instead of busy-waiting.