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PTHREAD_COND(3)            Library Functions Manual            PTHREAD_COND(3)

NAME
     pthread_cond, pthread_cond_init, pthread_cond_destroy,
     pthread_cond_broadcast, pthread_cond_signal, pthread_cond_wait,
     pthread_cond_timedwait - condition variable interface

LIBRARY
     POSIX Threads Library (libpthread, -lpthread)

SYNOPSIS
     #include <pthread.h>

     int
     pthread_cond_init(pthread_cond_t * restrict cond,
         const pthread_condattr_t * restrict attr);

     pthread_cond_t cond = PTHREAD_COND_INITIALIZER;

     int
     pthread_cond_destroy(pthread_cond_t *cond);

     int
     pthread_cond_broadcast(pthread_cond_t *cond);

     int
     pthread_cond_signal(pthread_cond_t *cond);

     int
     pthread_cond_wait(pthread_cond_t * restrict cond,
         pthread_mutex_t * restrict mutex);

     int
     pthread_cond_timedwait(pthread_cond_t * restrict cond,
         pthread_mutex_t * restrict mutex,
         const struct timespec * restrict abstime);

DESCRIPTION
     Condition variables are intended to be used to communicate changes in the
     state of data shared between threads.  Condition variables are always
     associated with a mutex to provide synchronized access to the shared
     data.  A single predicate should always be associated with a condition
     variable.  The predicate should identify a state of the shared data that
     must be true before the thread proceeds.

     The pthread_cond_init() function creates a new condition variable, with
     attributes specified with attr.  If attr is NULL the default attributes
     are used.  The pthread_cond_destroy() function frees the resources
     allocated by the condition variable cond.

     The macro PTHREAD_COND_INITIALIZER can be used to initialize a condition
     variable when it can be statically allocated and the default attributes
     are appropriate.  The effect is similar to calling pthread_cond_init()
     with attr specified as NULL, except that no error checking is done.

     The difference between pthread_cond_broadcast() and pthread_cond_signal()
     is that the former unblocks all threads waiting for the condition
     variable, whereas the latter unblocks only one waiting thread.  If no
     threads are waiting on cond, neither function has any effect.  If more
     than one thread is blocked on a condition variable, the used scheduling
     policy determines the order in which threads are unblocked.  The same
     mutex used for waiting must be held while calling either function.
     Although neither function strictly enforces this requirement, undefined
     behavior may follow if the mutex is not held.

     The pthread_cond_wait() function atomically blocks the current thread
     waiting on the condition variable specified by cond, and unlocks the
     mutex specified by mutex.  The pthread_cond_timedwait() function behaves
     similarly, but unblocks also if the system time reaches the time
     specified in abstime, represented as struct timespec (see timespec(3)).
     With both functions the waiting thread unblocks after another thread
     calls pthread_cond_signal() or pthread_cond_broadcast() with the same
     condition variable and by holding the same mutex that was associated with
     cond by either one of the blocking functions.  The current thread holds
     the lock on mutex upon return from either function.

     Note that a call to pthread_cond_wait() or pthread_cond_timedwait() may
     wake up spontaneously, without a call to pthread_cond_signal() or
     pthread_cond_broadcast().  The caller should prepare for this by invoking
     either function within a predicate loop that tests whether the thread
     should proceed.

     As noted, when calling either function that waits on a condition
     variable, a temporary binding is established between the condition
     variable cond and the mutex mutex.  During this time, the effect of an
     attempt by any thread to wait on that condition variable using a
     different mutex is undefined.  The same mutex must be held while
     broadcasting or signaling on cond.  Additionally, the same mutex must be
     used for concurrent calls to pthread_cond_wait() and
     pthread_cond_timedwait().  Only when a condition variable is known to be
     quiescent may an application change the mutex associated with it.  In
     this implementation, none of the functions enforce this requirement, but
     if the mutex is not held or independent mutexes are used the resulting
     behaviour is undefined.

RETURN VALUES
     If successful, all functions return zero.  Otherwise, an error number
     will be returned to indicate the error.

ERRORS
     The pthread_cond_init() function may fail if:

     [EINVAL]           The value specified by attr is invalid.

     The pthread_cond_destroy() function may fail if:

     [EBUSY]            The variable cond is locked by another thread.

     [EINVAL]           The value specified by cond is invalid.

     Both pthread_cond_broadcast() and pthread_cond_signal() may fail if:

     [EINVAL]           The value specified by cond is invalid.

     Both pthread_cond_wait() and pthread_cond_timedwait() may fail if:

     [EINVAL]           The value specified by cond or the value specified by
                        mutex is invalid.

     [EPERM]            The value specified by mutex was not locked in the
                        condition wait.

     The pthread_cond_timedwait() function may additionally fail if:

     [ETIMEDOUT]        The system time has reached or exceeded the time
                        specified in abstime.

SEE ALSO
     pthread(3), pthread_barrier(3), pthread_condattr(3), pthread_mutex(3),
     pthread_rwlock(3), pthread_spin(3)

STANDARDS
     These functions conform to IEEE Std 1003.1-2001 ("POSIX.1").

NetBSD 10.99                     July 8, 2010                     NetBSD 10.99