POSIX Threads

Contents

pthreads defines a set of C programming language types, functions and constants. It is implemented with a pthread.h header and a thread library.

There are around 100 threads procedures, all prefixed pthread_ and they can be categorized into four groups:

• Thread management - creating, joining threads etc.
• Mutexes
• Condition variables
• Synchronization between threads using read/write locks and barriers

The POSIX semaphore API works with POSIX threads but is not part of threads standard, having been defined in the POSIX.1b, Real-time extensions (IEEE Std 1003.1b-1993) standard. Consequently, the semaphore procedures are prefixed by sem_ instead of pthread_.

See also

• process, thread, NLWP, context switch sar -w, Multitasking, Native POSIX Thread Library (NPTL), POSIX Threads, Grand Central Dispatch (GCD or libdispatch), mutex, futex

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