What is a mutex and how does it work?

Can you explain what a mutex is?

A mutex, or mutual exclusion, is a synchronization primitive used to prevent multiple threads from accessing a shared resource simultaneously.

How does a mutex work in programming?

A mutex works by locking a resource when a thread wants to access it. If another thread tries to access the same resource, it must wait until the mutex is unlocked.

What happens if a thread forgets to unlock a mutex?

If a thread forgets to unlock a mutex, it can lead to a deadlock situation where other threads are indefinitely blocked from accessing the resource.

Are there different types of mutexes?

Yes, there are several types of mutexes, including recursive mutexes, timed mutexes, and spinlocks, each serving different use cases.