Section

std::unique_lock

The class unique_lock is a general-purpose mutex ownership wrapper allowing deferred locking, time-constrained attempts at locking, recursive locking, transfer of lock ownership, and use with condition variables.

# Declarations

template< class Mutex >
class unique_lock;

(since C++11)

# Example

#include <iostream>
#include <mutex>
#include <thread>
 
struct Box
{
    explicit Box(int num) : num_things{num} {}
 
    int num_things;
    std::mutex m;
};
 
void transfer(Box& from, Box& to, int num)
{
    // don't actually take the locks yet
    std::unique_lock lock1{from.m, std::defer_lock};
    std::unique_lock lock2{to.m, std::defer_lock};
 
    // lock both unique_locks without deadlock
    std::lock(lock1, lock2);
 
    from.num_things -= num;
    to.num_things += num;
 
    // “from.m” and “to.m” mutexes unlocked in unique_lock dtors
}
 
int main()
{
    Box acc1{100};
    Box acc2{50};
 
    std::thread t1{transfer, std::ref(acc1), std::ref(acc2), 10};
    std::thread t2{transfer, std::ref(acc2), std::ref(acc1), 5};
 
    t1.join();
    t2.join();
 
    std::cout << "acc1: " << acc1.num_things << "\n"
                 "acc2: " << acc2.num_things << '\n';
}

# Defect reports

DRApplied toBehavior as publishedCorrect behavior
LWG 2981C++17redundant deduction guide from unique_lock was providedremoved

# See also