What are the differences between mutexes and condition variables?

Can you explain the differences between mutexes and condition variables?

Sure! Mutexes are used to protect shared resources by ensuring that only one thread can access the resource at a time. Condition variables, on the other hand, are used for signaling between threads, allowing one thread to wait for a condition to be met before continuing.

When should I use a mutex instead of a condition variable?

You should use a mutex when you need to protect shared data from concurrent access. Use a condition variable when you want to block a thread until a certain condition is true, often in conjunction with a mutex.

Can you give an example of how they work together?

Absolutely! Imagine a producer-consumer scenario: the producer uses a mutex to protect the shared buffer and a condition variable to signal the consumer when new data is available. The consumer waits on the condition variable until it receives the signal.

Are there any downsides to using them?

Yes, using mutexes can lead to deadlocks if not managed properly, while condition variables can introduce complexity in thread management. It's important to design your synchronization carefully.