Types of Locks: std::shared_lock
Explore the use of std::shared_lock to implement reader-writer locks with std::shared_timed_mutex. Understand how multiple threads can safely perform read operations simultaneously, while write operations maintain exclusive access. Discover common pitfalls like data races in shared data scenarios and learn best practices to avoid undefined behavior in concurrent C++ programs.
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A std::shared_lock has the same interface as a std::unique_lock but behaves differently when used with a std::shared_timed_mutex. Many threads can share one std::shared_timed_mutex and, therefore, implement a reader-writer lock. The idea of reader-writer locks is straightforward and extremely useful. An arbitrary number of threads executing read operations can access the critical region at the same time, but only one thread is allowed to write.
Reader-writer locks do not solve the fundamental problem - threads competing for access to a critical region, but they do help to minimize the bottleneck.
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