NAME¶

std::thread::thread - std::thread::thread

Synopsis¶

thread() noexcept; (1) (since C++11)
thread( thread&& other ) noexcept; (2) (since C++11)
template< class F, class... Args > (3) (since C++11)
explicit thread( F&& f, Args&&... args );
thread( const thread& ) = delete; (4) (since C++11)

Constructs a new std::thread object.

1) Creates a new std::thread object which does not represent a thread.
2) Move constructor. Constructs the std::thread object to represent the thread of
execution that was represented by other. After this call other no longer represents
a thread of execution.
3) Creates a new std::thread object and associates it with a thread of execution.
The new thread of execution starts executing:

INVOKE(decay-copy(std::forward<F>(f)), (until C++23)
decay-copy(std::forward<Args>(args))...)
std::invoke(auto(std::forward<F>(f)), (since C++23)
auto(std::forward<Args>(args))...)

The calls of decay-copy are evaluated
(until C++23)
The values produced by auto are materialized
(since C++23) in the current thread, so that any exceptions thrown during evaluation
and copying/moving of the arguments are thrown in the current thread, without
starting the new thread.
This overload participates in overload resolution only if
std::decay<F>::type
(until C++20)
std::remove_cvref_t<F>
(since C++20) is not the same type as std::thread.

If any of the following conditions is satisfied, the program is
ill-formed:

* F is not MoveConstructible. (until C++20)
* Any type in Args is not MoveConstructible.
* INVOKE(decay-copy(std::forward<F>(f)),
decay-copy(std::forward<Args>(args))...) is not a valid
expression.
If any of the following is false, the program is ill-formed:

* std::is_constructible_v<std::decay_t<F>, F> (since C++20)
* (std::is_constructible_v<std::decay_t<Args>, Args> && ...)
* std::is_invocable_v<std::decay_t<F>, std::decay_t<Args>...>

The completion of the invocation of the constructor synchronizes with the beginning
of the invocation of the copy of f on the new thread of execution.
4) The copy constructor is deleted; threads are not copyable. No two std::thread
objects may represent the same thread of execution.

Parameters¶

other - another thread object to construct this thread object with
f - Callable object to execute in the new thread
args - arguments to pass to the new function

Postconditions¶

1) get_id() equal to std::thread::id() (i.e. joinable() is false).
2) other.get_id() equal to std::thread::id() and get_id() returns the value of
other.get_id() prior to the start of construction.
3) get_id() not equal to std::thread::id() (i.e. joinable() is true).

Exceptions¶

3) std::system_error if the thread could not be started. The exception may represent
the error condition std::errc::resource_unavailable_try_again or another
implementation-specific error condition.

Notes¶

The arguments to the thread function are moved or copied by value. If a reference
argument needs to be passed to the thread function, it has to be wrapped (e.g., with
std::ref or std::cref).

Any return value from the function is ignored. If the function throws an exception,
std::terminate is called. In order to pass return values or exceptions back to the
calling thread, std::promise or std::async may be used.

Example¶

// Run this code

#include <chrono>
#include <iostream>
#include <thread>
#include <utility>

void f1(int n)
{
for (int i = 0; i < 5; ++i)
{
std::cout << "Thread 1 executing\n";
++n;
std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(10));
}
}

void f2(int& n)
{
for (int i = 0; i < 5; ++i)
{
std::cout << "Thread 2 executing\n";
++n;
std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(10));
}
}

class foo
{
public:
void bar()
{
for (int i = 0; i < 5; ++i)
{
std::cout << "Thread 3 executing\n";
++n;
std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(10));
}
}
int n = 0;
};

class baz
{
public:
void operator()()
{
for (int i = 0; i < 5; ++i)
{
std::cout << "Thread 4 executing\n";
++n;
std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(10));
}
}
int n = 0;
};

int main()
{
int n = 0;
foo f;
baz b;
std::thread t1; // t1 is not a thread
std::thread t2(f1, n + 1); // pass by value
std::thread t3(f2, std::ref(n)); // pass by reference
std::thread t4(std::move(t3)); // t4 is now running f2(). t3 is no longer a thread
std::thread t5(&foo::bar, &f); // t5 runs foo::bar() on object f
std::thread t6(b); // t6 runs baz::operator() on a copy of object b
t2.join();
t4.join();
t5.join();
t6.join();
std::cout << "Final value of n is " << n << '\n';
std::cout << "Final value of f.n (foo::n) is " << f.n << '\n';
std::cout << "Final value of b.n (baz::n) is " << b.n << '\n';
}

Possible output:¶

Thread 1 executing
Thread 2 executing
Thread 3 executing
Thread 4 executing
Thread 3 executing
Thread 1 executing
Thread 2 executing
Thread 4 executing
Thread 2 executing
Thread 3 executing
Thread 1 executing
Thread 4 executing
Thread 3 executing
Thread 2 executing
Thread 1 executing
Thread 4 executing
Thread 3 executing
Thread 1 executing
Thread 2 executing
Thread 4 executing
Final value of n is 5
Final value of f.n (foo::n) is 5
Final value of b.n (baz::n) is 0

Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to
previously published C++ standards.

DR Applied to Behavior as published Correct behavior
LWG 2097 C++11 for overload (3), F could be std::thread F is constrained
overload (3) directly required (the decayed
LWG 3476 C++20 types of) removed these
F and the argument types to be move requirements^[1]
constructible

1. ↑ The move-constructibility is already indirectly required by
std::is_constructible_v.

References¶

* C++23 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2023):

* 33.4.3.3 thread constructors [thread.thread.constr]
* C++20 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2020):

* 32.4.2.2 thread constructors [thread.thread.constr]
* C++17 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2017):

* 33.3.2.2 thread constructors [thread.thread.constr]
* C++14 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2014):

* 30.3.1.2 thread constructors [thread.thread.constr]
* C++11 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2011):

* 30.3.1.2 thread constructors [thread.thread.constr]

See also¶

constructor constructs new jthread object
(public member function of std::jthread)
C documentation for
thrd_create