Understand multithreading and synchronization from "summary" of C/C++ Programmer's Reference by Herbert Schildt
Multithreading allows multiple threads to exist within the context of a single process. Each thread has its own stack and runs independently, but shares the same global memory space. This allows for concurrent execution of code, which can improve performance by taking advantage of multiple processors or processor cores. However, multithreading also introduces the potential for synchronization issues. Synchronization is the process of coordinating the execution of multiple threads to ensure that they do not interfere with each other. Without proper synchronization, threads can access shared resources simultaneously, leading to data corruption or inconsistent results. To prevent this, programmers use synchronization techniques such as locks, semaphores, and mutexes to control access to shared resources. Locks are the most basic synchronization mechanism and can be used to prevent multiple threads from accessing a shared resource simultaneously. When a thread acquires a lock, no other thread can access the resource until the lock is released. Semaphores are similar to locks but can allow multiple threads to access a resource at the same time, up to a specified limit. Mutexes are similar to locks but are more versatile and allow for more complex synchronization scenarios. In addition to these synchronization mechanisms, multithreading also requires careful consideration of thread safety. Thread safety refers to the ability of a piece of code to function correctly when accessed by multiple threads simultaneously. To ensure thread safety, programmers must carefully design their code to avoid race conditions, deadlocks, and other synchronization issues.- Understanding multithreading and synchronization is essential for developing efficient and reliable multithreaded applications. By mastering these concepts and techniques, programmers can take full advantage of the benefits of multithreading while avoiding the pitfalls of concurrent execution.
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