9. Multithreading
Multithreading is a method that allows multiple threads to run concurrently, enhancing CPU utilization and application responsiveness. Different multithreading models, including many-to-one, one-to-one, and many-to-many, demonstrate varying degrees of effectiveness in using processor resources. The chapter also discusses synchronization mechanisms vital for thread safety, and highlights challenges and techniques in multithreading, such as thread pools and work queues, across various programming languages and operating systems.
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What we have learnt
- Multithreading improves application performance by allowing multiple threads to execute tasks concurrently.
- Different threading models affect how threads are managed and executed, impacting resource utilization.
- Synchronization is crucial in multithreading to prevent issues like race conditions and deadlocks.
Key Concepts
- -- Multithreading
- The concurrent execution of more than one sequential task within a program, allowing for improved CPU resource usage.
- -- Race Condition
- A situation in multithreaded programs where the outcome depends on the timing of thread execution, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior.
- -- Mutex
- A locking mechanism that ensures only one thread can access a shared resource at any one time.
- -- Thread Pool
- A collection of pre-instantiated threads that can be used to perform tasks, enhancing performance by reducing the overhead of thread creation.
- -- Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT)
- A technology that allows multiple threads to execute simultaneously on a single core by utilizing unused execution units.
- -- Deadlock
- A situation where two or more threads are stuck waiting for resources held by each other, leading to a standstill in execution.
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