C++ Concurrency in Action

Chapter 3. Sharing data between threads

This chapter covers

• Problems with sharing data between threads
• Protecting data with mutexes
• Alternative facilities for protecting shared data

One of the key benefits of using threads for concurrency is the potential to easily and directly share data between them, so now that we’ve covered starting and managing threads, let’s look at the issues surrounding shared data.

Imagine for a moment that you’re sharing an apartment with a friend. There’s only one kitchen and only one bathroom. Unless you’re particularly friendly, you can’t both use the bathroom at the same time, and if your roommate occupies the bathroom for a long time, it can be frustrating if you need to use it. Likewise, ...