layout	pattern
title	Mutex
folder	mutex
permalink	/patterns/mutex/
categories	Concurrency
tags	Decoupling

Also known as

• Mutual Exclusion Lock
• Binary Semaphore

Intent

Create a lock which only allows a single thread to access a resource at any one instant.

Class diagram

Applicability

Use a Mutex when

• You need to prevent two threads accessing a critical section at the same time
• Concurrent access to a resource could lead to a race condition

Credits

• Lock (computer science)
• Semaphores