# Mutexes
# std::unique_lock, std::shared_lock, std::lock_guard
Used for the RAII style acquiring of try locks, timed try locks and recursive locks.
std::unique_lock allows for exclusive ownership of mutexes.
std::shared_lock allows for shared ownership of mutexes. Several threads can hold std::shared_locks on a std::shared_mutex. Available from C++ 14.
std::lock_guard is a lightweight alternative to std::unique_lock and std::shared_lock.
#include <unordered_map>
#include <mutex>
#include <shared_mutex>
#include <thread>
#include <string>
#include <iostream>
class PhoneBook {
public:
std::string getPhoneNo( const std::string & name )
{
std::shared_lock<std::shared_timed_mutex> l(_protect);
auto it = _phonebook.find( name );
if ( it != _phonebook.end() )
return (*it).second;
return "";
}
void addPhoneNo ( const std::string & name, const std::string & phone )
{
std::unique_lock<std::shared_timed_mutex> l(_protect);
_phonebook[name] = phone;
}
std::shared_timed_mutex _protect;
std::unordered_map<std::string,std::string> _phonebook;
};
# Strategies for lock classes: std::try_to_lock, std::adopt_lock, std::defer_lock
When creating a std::unique_lock, there are three different locking strategies to choose from: std::try_to_lock, std::defer_lock and std::adopt_lock
std::try_to_lockallows for trying a lock without blocking:
{
std::atomic_int temp {0};
std::mutex _mutex;
std::thread t( [&](){
while( temp!= -1){
std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::seconds(5));
std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock( _mutex, std::try_to_lock);
if(lock.owns_lock()){
//do something
temp=0;
}
}
});
while ( true )
{
std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::seconds(1));
std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock( _mutex, std::try_to_lock);
if(lock.owns_lock()){
if (temp < INT_MAX){
++temp;
}
std::cout << temp << std::endl;
}
}
}
{
std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock1(_mutex1, std::defer_lock);
std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock2(_mutex2, std::defer_lock);
lock1.lock()
lock2.lock(); // deadlock here
std::cout << "Locked! << std::endl;
//...
}
With the following code, whatever happens in the function, the locks are acquired and released in appropriate order:
{
std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock1(_mutex1, std::defer_lock);
std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock2(_mutex2, std::defer_lock);
std::lock(lock1,lock2); // no deadlock possible
std::cout << "Locked! << std::endl;
//...
}
std::adopt_lockdoes not attempt to lock a second time if the calling thread currently owns the lock.
{
std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock1(_mutex1, std::adopt_lock);
std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock2(_mutex2, std::adopt_lock);
std::cout << "Locked! << std::endl;
//...
}
Something to keep in mind is that std::adopt_lock is not a substitute for recursive mutex usage. When the lock goes out of scope the mutex is released.
# std::mutex
std::mutex is a simple, non-recursive synchronization structure that is used to protect data which is accessed by multiple threads.
std::atomic_int temp{0};
std::mutex _mutex;
std::thread t( [&](){
while( temp!= -1){
std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::seconds(5));
std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock( _mutex);
temp=0;
}
});
while ( true )
{
std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(1));
std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock( _mutex, std::try_to_lock);
if ( temp < INT_MAX )
temp++;
cout << temp << endl;
}
# std::scoped_lock (C++ 17)
std::scoped_lock provides RAII style semantics for owning one more mutexes, combined with the lock avoidance algorithms used by std::lock. When std::scoped_lock is destroyed, mutexes are released in the reverse order from which they where acquired.
{
std::scoped_lock lock{_mutex1,_mutex2};
//do something
}
# Mutex Types
C++1x offers a selection of mutex classes:
- std::mutex (opens new window) - offers simple locking functionality.
- std::timed_mutex - offers try_to_lock functionality
- std::recursive_mutex (opens new window) - allows recursive locking by the same thread.
- std::shared_mutex, std::shared_timed_mutex - offers shared and unique lock functionality.
# std::lock
std::lock uses deadlock avoidance algorithms to lock one or more mutexes. If an exception is thrown during a call to lock multiple objects, std::lock unlocks the successfully locked objects before re-throwing the exception.
std::lock(_mutex1, _mutex2);
# Remarks
# It is better to use std::shared_mutex than std::shared_timed_mutex.
The performance difference is more than double.
If you want to use RWLock, you will find that there are two options.
It is std::shared_mutex and shared_timed_mutex.
you may think std::shared_timed_mutex is just the version 'std::shared_mutex + time method'.
But the implementation is totally different.
# The code below is MSVC14.1 implementation of std::shared_mutex.
class shared_mutex
{
public:
typedef _Smtx_t * native_handle_type;
shared_mutex() _NOEXCEPT
: _Myhandle(0)
{ // default construct
}
~shared_mutex() _NOEXCEPT
{ // destroy the object
}
void lock() _NOEXCEPT
{ // lock exclusive
_Smtx_lock_exclusive(&_Myhandle);
}
bool try_lock() _NOEXCEPT
{ // try to lock exclusive
return (_Smtx_try_lock_exclusive(&_Myhandle) != 0);
}
void unlock() _NOEXCEPT
{ // unlock exclusive
_Smtx_unlock_exclusive(&_Myhandle);
}
void lock_shared() _NOEXCEPT
{ // lock non-exclusive
_Smtx_lock_shared(&_Myhandle);
}
bool try_lock_shared() _NOEXCEPT
{ // try to lock non-exclusive
return (_Smtx_try_lock_shared(&_Myhandle) != 0);
}
void unlock_shared() _NOEXCEPT
{ // unlock non-exclusive
_Smtx_unlock_shared(&_Myhandle);
}
native_handle_type native_handle() _NOEXCEPT
{ // get native handle
return (&_Myhandle);
}
shared_mutex(const shared_mutex&) = delete;
shared_mutex& operator=(const shared_mutex&) = delete;
private:
_Smtx_t _Myhandle;
};
void __cdecl _Smtx_lock_exclusive(_Smtx_t * smtx)
{ /* lock shared mutex exclusively */
AcquireSRWLockExclusive(reinterpret_cast<PSRWLOCK>(smtx));
}
void __cdecl _Smtx_lock_shared(_Smtx_t * smtx)
{ /* lock shared mutex non-exclusively */
AcquireSRWLockShared(reinterpret_cast<PSRWLOCK>(smtx));
}
int __cdecl _Smtx_try_lock_exclusive(_Smtx_t * smtx)
{ /* try to lock shared mutex exclusively */
return (TryAcquireSRWLockExclusive(reinterpret_cast<PSRWLOCK>(smtx)));
}
int __cdecl _Smtx_try_lock_shared(_Smtx_t * smtx)
{ /* try to lock shared mutex non-exclusively */
return (TryAcquireSRWLockShared(reinterpret_cast<PSRWLOCK>(smtx)));
}
void __cdecl _Smtx_unlock_exclusive(_Smtx_t * smtx)
{ /* unlock exclusive shared mutex */
ReleaseSRWLockExclusive(reinterpret_cast<PSRWLOCK>(smtx));
}
void __cdecl _Smtx_unlock_shared(_Smtx_t * smtx)
{ /* unlock non-exclusive shared mutex */
ReleaseSRWLockShared(reinterpret_cast<PSRWLOCK>(smtx));
}
You can see that std::shared_mutex is implemented in Windows Slim Reader/Write Locks(https://msdn.microsoft.com/ko-kr/library/windows/desktop/aa904937(v=vs.85).aspx) (opens new window))
Now Let's look at the implementation of std::shared_timed_mutex.
# The code below is MSVC14.1 implementation of std::shared_timed_mutex.
class shared_timed_mutex
{
typedef unsigned int _Read_cnt_t;
static constexpr _Read_cnt_t _Max_readers = _Read_cnt_t(-1);
public:
shared_timed_mutex() _NOEXCEPT
: _Mymtx(), _Read_queue(), _Write_queue(),
_Readers(0), _Writing(false)
{ // default construct
}
~shared_timed_mutex() _NOEXCEPT
{ // destroy the object
}
void lock()
{ // lock exclusive
unique_lock<mutex> _Lock(_Mymtx);
while (_Writing)
_Write_queue.wait(_Lock);
_Writing = true;
while (0 < _Readers)
_Read_queue.wait(_Lock); // wait for writing, no readers
}
bool try_lock()
{ // try to lock exclusive
lock_guard<mutex> _Lock(_Mymtx);
if (_Writing || 0 < _Readers)
return (false);
else
{ // set writing, no readers
_Writing = true;
return (true);
}
}
template<class _Rep,
class _Period>
bool try_lock_for(
const chrono::duration<_Rep, _Period>& _Rel_time)
{ // try to lock for duration
return (try_lock_until(chrono::steady_clock::now() + _Rel_time));
}
template<class _Clock,
class _Duration>
bool try_lock_until(
const chrono::time_point<_Clock, _Duration>& _Abs_time)
{ // try to lock until time point
auto _Not_writing = [this] { return (!_Writing); };
auto _Zero_readers = [this] { return (_Readers == 0); };
unique_lock<mutex> _Lock(_Mymtx);
if (!_Write_queue.wait_until(_Lock, _Abs_time, _Not_writing))
return (false);
_Writing = true;
if (!_Read_queue.wait_until(_Lock, _Abs_time, _Zero_readers))
{ // timeout, leave writing state
_Writing = false;
_Lock.unlock(); // unlock before notifying, for efficiency
_Write_queue.notify_all();
return (false);
}
return (true);
}
void unlock()
{ // unlock exclusive
{ // unlock before notifying, for efficiency
lock_guard<mutex> _Lock(_Mymtx);
_Writing = false;
}
_Write_queue.notify_all();
}
void lock_shared()
{ // lock non-exclusive
unique_lock<mutex> _Lock(_Mymtx);
while (_Writing || _Readers == _Max_readers)
_Write_queue.wait(_Lock);
++_Readers;
}
bool try_lock_shared()
{ // try to lock non-exclusive
lock_guard<mutex> _Lock(_Mymtx);
if (_Writing || _Readers == _Max_readers)
return (false);
else
{ // count another reader
++_Readers;
return (true);
}
}
template<class _Rep,
class _Period>
bool try_lock_shared_for(
const chrono::duration<_Rep, _Period>& _Rel_time)
{ // try to lock non-exclusive for relative time
return (try_lock_shared_until(_Rel_time
+ chrono::steady_clock::now()));
}
template<class _Time>
bool _Try_lock_shared_until(_Time _Abs_time)
{ // try to lock non-exclusive until absolute time
auto _Can_acquire = [this] {
return (!_Writing && _Readers < _Max_readers); };
unique_lock<mutex> _Lock(_Mymtx);
if (!_Write_queue.wait_until(_Lock, _Abs_time, _Can_acquire))
return (false);
++_Readers;
return (true);
}
template<class _Clock,
class _Duration>
bool try_lock_shared_until(
const chrono::time_point<_Clock, _Duration>& _Abs_time)
{ // try to lock non-exclusive until absolute time
return (_Try_lock_shared_until(_Abs_time));
}
bool try_lock_shared_until(const xtime *_Abs_time)
{ // try to lock non-exclusive until absolute time
return (_Try_lock_shared_until(_Abs_time));
}
void unlock_shared()
{ // unlock non-exclusive
_Read_cnt_t _Local_readers;
bool _Local_writing;
{ // unlock before notifying, for efficiency
lock_guard<mutex> _Lock(_Mymtx);
--_Readers;
_Local_readers = _Readers;
_Local_writing = _Writing;
}
if (_Local_writing && _Local_readers == 0)
_Read_queue.notify_one();
else if (!_Local_writing && _Local_readers == _Max_readers - 1)
_Write_queue.notify_all();
}
shared_timed_mutex(const shared_timed_mutex&) = delete;
shared_timed_mutex& operator=(const shared_timed_mutex&) = delete;
private:
mutex _Mymtx;
condition_variable _Read_queue, _Write_queue;
_Read_cnt_t _Readers;
bool _Writing;
};
class stl_condition_variable_win7 final : public stl_condition_variable_interface
{
public:
stl_condition_variable_win7()
{
__crtInitializeConditionVariable(&m_condition_variable);
}
~stl_condition_variable_win7() = delete;
stl_condition_variable_win7(const stl_condition_variable_win7&) = delete;
stl_condition_variable_win7& operator=(const stl_condition_variable_win7&) = delete;
virtual void destroy() override {}
virtual void wait(stl_critical_section_interface *lock) override
{
if (!stl_condition_variable_win7::wait_for(lock, INFINITE))
std::terminate();
}
virtual bool wait_for(stl_critical_section_interface *lock, unsigned int timeout) override
{
return __crtSleepConditionVariableSRW(&m_condition_variable, static_cast<stl_critical_section_win7 *>(lock)->native_handle(), timeout, 0) != 0;
}
virtual void notify_one() override
{
__crtWakeConditionVariable(&m_condition_variable);
}
virtual void notify_all() override
{
__crtWakeAllConditionVariable(&m_condition_variable);
}
private:
CONDITION_VARIABLE m_condition_variable;
};
You can see that std::shared_timed_mutex is implemented in std::condition_value.
This is a huge difference.
So Let's check the performance of two of them.
This is the result of read/write test for 1000 millisecond.
# std::shared_mutex processed read/write over 2 times more than std::shared_timed_mutex.
In this example, the read / write ratio is the same, but the read rate is more frequent than the write rate in real.
Therefore, the performance difference can be larger.
the code below is the code in this example.
void useSTLSharedMutex()
{
std::shared_mutex shared_mtx_lock;
std::vector<std::thread> readThreads;
std::vector<std::thread> writeThreads;
std::list<int> data = { 0 };
volatile bool exit = false;
std::atomic<int> readProcessedCnt(0);
std::atomic<int> writeProcessedCnt(0);
for (unsigned int i = 0; i < std::thread::hardware_concurrency(); i++)
{
readThreads.push_back(std::thread([&data, &exit, &shared_mtx_lock, &readProcessedCnt]() {
std::list<int> mydata;
int localProcessCnt = 0;
while (true)
{
shared_mtx_lock.lock_shared();
mydata.push_back(data.back());
++localProcessCnt;
shared_mtx_lock.unlock_shared();
if (exit)
break;
}
std::atomic_fetch_add(&readProcessedCnt, localProcessCnt);
}));
writeThreads.push_back(std::thread([&data, &exit, &shared_mtx_lock, &writeProcessedCnt]() {
int localProcessCnt = 0;
while (true)
{
shared_mtx_lock.lock();
data.push_back(rand() % 100);
++localProcessCnt;
shared_mtx_lock.unlock();
if (exit)
break;
}
std::atomic_fetch_add(&writeProcessedCnt, localProcessCnt);
}));
}
std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(MAIN_WAIT_MILLISECONDS));
exit = true;
for (auto &r : readThreads)
r.join();
for (auto &w : writeThreads)
w.join();
std::cout << "STLSharedMutex READ : " << readProcessedCnt << std::endl;
std::cout << "STLSharedMutex WRITE : " << writeProcessedCnt << std::endl;
std::cout << "TOTAL READ&WRITE : " << readProcessedCnt + writeProcessedCnt << std::endl << std::endl;
}
void useSTLSharedTimedMutex()
{
std::shared_timed_mutex shared_mtx_lock;
std::vector<std::thread> readThreads;
std::vector<std::thread> writeThreads;
std::list<int> data = { 0 };
volatile bool exit = false;
std::atomic<int> readProcessedCnt(0);
std::atomic<int> writeProcessedCnt(0);
for (unsigned int i = 0; i < std::thread::hardware_concurrency(); i++)
{
readThreads.push_back(std::thread([&data, &exit, &shared_mtx_lock, &readProcessedCnt]() {
std::list<int> mydata;
int localProcessCnt = 0;
while (true)
{
shared_mtx_lock.lock_shared();
mydata.push_back(data.back());
++localProcessCnt;
shared_mtx_lock.unlock_shared();
if (exit)
break;
}
std::atomic_fetch_add(&readProcessedCnt, localProcessCnt);
}));
writeThreads.push_back(std::thread([&data, &exit, &shared_mtx_lock, &writeProcessedCnt]() {
int localProcessCnt = 0;
while (true)
{
shared_mtx_lock.lock();
data.push_back(rand() % 100);
++localProcessCnt;
shared_mtx_lock.unlock();
if (exit)
break;
}
std::atomic_fetch_add(&writeProcessedCnt, localProcessCnt);
}));
}
std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(MAIN_WAIT_MILLISECONDS));
exit = true;
for (auto &r : readThreads)
r.join();
for (auto &w : writeThreads)
w.join();
std::cout << "STLSharedTimedMutex READ : " << readProcessedCnt << std::endl;
std::cout << "STLSharedTimedMutex WRITE : " << writeProcessedCnt << std::endl;
std::cout << "TOTAL READ&WRITE : " << readProcessedCnt + writeProcessedCnt << std::endl << std::endl;
}