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C# : Interview questions (41-45)


 Questions :

  • What is the purpose of the Thread class?
  • Explain the difference between a thread and a process.
  • How do you synchronize threads in C#?
  • What is deadlock in multithreading?
  • What is a mutex?

Answers :

Purpose of the Thread Class:

The Thread class in C# is used to create and control threads, which are independent sequences of execution within a process. Threads allow multiple tasks to execute concurrently, enabling parallelism and multitasking in applications. The Thread class provides methods to start, pause, resume, and terminate threads, as well as facilities for thread synchronization and coordination.

Difference between a Thread and a Process:

  • Thread:
    • A thread is the smallest unit of execution within a process.
    • Threads within the same process share the same memory space and resources, including code, data, and file handles.
    • Threads are lightweight compared to processes and have less overhead when switching between them.
    • Threads can communicate and synchronize with each other directly.
  • Process:
    • A process is an instance of a running application or program on a computer.
    • Processes have their own memory space and resources, including code, data, and file handles, which are isolated from other processes.
    • Processes are heavyweight compared to threads and have more overhead in terms of memory and system resources.
    • Processes communicate with each other using inter-process communication (IPC) mechanisms.

Synchronizing Threads in C#:

Thread synchronization in C# is achieved using synchronization primitives such as locks, monitors, mutexes, and semaphores. These mechanisms prevent multiple threads from accessing shared resources concurrently and ensure thread safety.

    object lockObject = new object();

lock (lockObject)
{
    // Critical section: Access shared resources
}

    In this example, a lock statement is used to synchronize access to a critical section of code by acquiring a lock on the lockObject.

    Deadlock in Multithreading:

    Deadlock is a situation in multithreading where two or more threads are blocked indefinitely, waiting for each other to release resources that they need to proceed. Deadlocks typically occur when multiple threads acquire locks on shared resources in different orders, leading to a circular dependency.

    lock (lockObject1)
{
    lock (lockObject2)
    {
        // Code that accesses resources protected by lockObject1 and lockObject2
    }
}

    In this example, if another thread acquires locks on lockObject2 and lockObject1 in the opposite order, a deadlock may occur if both threads try to acquire locks simultaneously.

    Mutex:

    A mutex (short for mutual exclusion) is a synchronization primitive that provides exclusive access to a shared resource. Unlike locks, which are tied to a specific thread or process, mutexes can be used to synchronize access across multiple threads or processes.

    using System.Threading;

Mutex mutex = new Mutex();

mutex.WaitOne(); // Acquire the mutex
try
{
    // Code that accesses the shared resource
}
finally
{
    mutex.ReleaseMutex(); // Release the mutex
}
    In this example, a mutex is used to ensure exclusive access to a shared resource by acquiring and releasing the mutex using the WaitOne and ReleaseMutex methods, respectively.
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