AI engineering glossary · Computing foundations
What is mutex?
Mutex (also called Lock): A mutual-exclusion lock that allows only one thread at a time to enter a protected section of code. Threads that arrive while it is held wait, which prevents simultaneous changes to shared data.
Mutex: an example
Wrapping a shared counter update in a lock makes sure two threads cannot change it at the same instant.
Related terms
More Computing foundations terms
- Nameserver
- Network address translation
- Network protocol
- NVMe
- Octal
- Open-source software
- Operating system
- OSI model
Where you learn it
Mutex is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.