Section

std::atomic_flag

std::atomic_flag is an atomic boolean type. Unlike all specializations of std::atomic, it is guaranteed to be lock-free. Unlike std::atomic, std::atomic_flag does not provide load or store operations.

# Declarations

class atomic_flag;

(since C++11)

# Example

#include <atomic>
#include <iostream>
#include <mutex>
#include <thread>
#include <vector>
 
class mutex
{
    std::atomic_flag m_{};
 
  public:
    void lock() noexcept
    {
        while (m_.test_and_set(std::memory_order_acquire))
#if defined(__cpp_lib_atomic_wait) && __cpp_lib_atomic_wait >= 201907L
            // Since C++20, locks can be acquired only after notification in the unlock,
            // avoiding any unnecessary spinning.
            // Note that even though wait guarantees it returns only after the value has
            // changed, the lock is acquired after the next condition check.
            m_.wait(true, std::memory_order_relaxed)
#endif
                ;
    }
    bool try_lock() noexcept
    {
        return !m_.test_and_set(std::memory_order_acquire);
    }
    void unlock() noexcept
    {
        m_.clear(std::memory_order_release);
#if defined(__cpp_lib_atomic_wait) && __cpp_lib_atomic_wait >= 201907L
        m_.notify_one();
#endif
    }
};
 
static mutex m;
 
static int out{};
 
void f(std::size_t n)
{
    for (std::size_t cnt{}; cnt < 40; ++cnt)
    {
        std::lock_guard lock{m};
        std::cout << n << ((++out % 40) == 0 ? '\n' : ' ');
    }
}
 
int main()
{
    std::vector<std::thread> v;
    for (std::size_t n{}; n < 10; ++n)
        v.emplace_back(f, n);
    for (auto &t : v)
        t.join();
}

# See also