What are the different types of locks in multithreading?

What are the different types of locks in multithreading?

In multithreading, the main types of locks are mutexes, spinlocks, read-write locks, and semaphore. Would you like to know more about any specific type?

Can you explain mutexes?

Sure! A mutex, or mutual exclusion lock, allows only one thread to access a resource at a time, preventing race conditions.

What about spinlocks?

Spinlocks are a type of lock where a thread repeatedly checks if the lock is available. They are efficient for short wait times but can waste CPU cycles.

How do read-write locks work?

Read-write locks allow multiple threads to read a resource simultaneously but give exclusive access to one thread for writing.

When should I use semaphores?

Semaphores are useful when you need to control access to a resource with a limited number of instances, allowing multiple threads to access it up to a specified limit.