What is a mutex in C?

Can you explain what a mutex is in C?

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

Why do I need a mutex when using threads?

You need a mutex to avoid race conditions, which can lead to inconsistent data or crashes when multiple threads modify shared data.

How do I implement a mutex in my C program?

You can implement a mutex in C using the pthread library. You would initialize a mutex with pthread_mutex_init, lock it with pthread_mutex_lock, and unlock it with pthread_mutex_unlock.

Are there any alternatives to using mutexes?

Yes, alternatives include using read-write locks, semaphores, or atomic operations, depending on your specific use case.