Word
mutex
Definitions
01a programming lock
n. a special object in a computer program that works like a lock to make sure only one part of the program uses a piece of information at once.
n. a synchronization object that grants exclusive access to a shared resource to a single thread at a time.
“The developer used a mutex to stop two threads from changing the user's password at the same time.”
“Without a properly implemented mutex, the concurrent processes would likely enter a race condition, leading to unpredictable data corruption in the shared database.”
Technical
Usage
usually used with verbs like 'acquire', 'release', 'lock', or 'unlock'
02to apply a lock
v. to protect a piece of data by using a mutex lock on it.
v. to protect a shared resource or critical section of code by applying a mutual exclusion lock.
“You need to mutex this variable so the background task doesn't crash the app.”
“The library automatically mutexes the shared buffer during write operations to ensure thread safety across the entire application.”
Technical
Usage
takes a direct object, typically a variable or a resource name
Antonyms
Etymology
A portmanteau of the words mutual and exclusion. The term follows the established pattern of technical contractions used to describe algorithmic properties in concurrent computing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/mutex