NAME¶

std::scoped_lock - std::scoped_lock

Synopsis¶

Defined in header <mutex>
template< class... MutexTypes > (since C++17)
class scoped_lock;

The class scoped_lock is a mutex wrapper that provides a convenient RAII-style
mechanism for owning zero or more mutexes for the duration of a scoped block.

When a scoped_lock object is created, it attempts to take ownership of the mutexes
it is given. When control leaves the scope in which the scoped_lock object was
created, the scoped_lock is destructed and the mutexes are released. If several
mutexes are given, deadlock avoidance algorithm is used as if by std::lock.

The scoped_lock class is non-copyable.

Template parameters¶

the types of the mutexes to lock. The types must meet the Lockable
MutexTypes - requirements unless sizeof...(MutexTypes)==1, in which case the only
type must meet BasicLockable

Member types¶

Member type Definition
mutex_type (ifsizeof...(MutexTypes)==1) Mutex, the sole type in MutexTypes...

Member functions¶

constructor constructs a scoped_lock, optionally locking the given mutexes
(public member function)
destructor destructs the scoped_lock object, unlocks the underlying mutexes
(public member function)
operator= not copy-assignable
[deleted] (public member function)

Notes¶

A common beginner error is to "forget" to give a scoped_lock variable a name, e.g.
std::scoped_lock(mtx); (which default constructs a scoped_lock variable named mtx)
or std::scoped_lock{mtx}; (which constructs a prvalue object that is immediately
destroyed), thereby not actually constructing a lock that holds a mutex for the rest
of the scope.

Feature-test macro Value Std Feature
__cpp_lib_scoped_lock 201703L (C++17) std::scoped_lock

Example¶

The following example uses std::scoped_lock to lock pairs of mutexes without
deadlock and is RAII-style.

// Run this code

#include <chrono>
#include <functional>
#include <iostream>
#include <mutex>
#include <string>
#include <thread>
#include <vector>
using namespace std::chrono_literals;

struct Employee
{
std::vector<std::string> lunch_partners;
std::string id;
std::mutex m;
Employee(std::string id) : id(id) {}
std::string partners() const
{
std::string ret = "Employee " + id + " has lunch partners: ";
for (int count{}; const auto& partner : lunch_partners)
ret += (count++ ? ", " : "") + partner;
return ret;
}
};

void send_mail(Employee&, Employee&)
{
// Simulate a time-consuming messaging operation
std::this_thread::sleep_for(1s);
}

void assign_lunch_partner(Employee& e1, Employee& e2)
{
static std::mutex io_mutex;
{
std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(io_mutex);
std::cout << e1.id << " and " << e2.id << " are waiting for locks" << std::endl;
}

{
// Use std::scoped_lock to acquire two locks without worrying about
// other calls to assign_lunch_partner deadlocking us
// and it also provides a convenient RAII-style mechanism

std::scoped_lock lock(e1.m, e2.m);

// Equivalent code 1 (using std::lock and std::lock_guard)
// std::lock(e1.m, e2.m);
// std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk1(e1.m, std::adopt_lock);
// std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk2(e2.m, std::adopt_lock);

// Equivalent code 2 (if unique_locks are needed, e.g. for condition variables)
// std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lk1(e1.m, std::defer_lock);
// std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lk2(e2.m, std::defer_lock);
// std::lock(lk1, lk2);
{
std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(io_mutex);
std::cout << e1.id << " and " << e2.id << " got locks" << std::endl;
}
e1.lunch_partners.push_back(e2.id);
e2.lunch_partners.push_back(e1.id);
}

send_mail(e1, e2);
send_mail(e2, e1);
}

int main()
{
Employee alice("Alice"), bob("Bob"), christina("Christina"), dave("Dave");

// Assign in parallel threads because mailing users about lunch assignments
// takes a long time
std::vector<std::thread> threads;
threads.emplace_back(assign_lunch_partner, std::ref(alice), std::ref(bob));
threads.emplace_back(assign_lunch_partner, std::ref(christina), std::ref(bob));
threads.emplace_back(assign_lunch_partner, std::ref(christina), std::ref(alice));
threads.emplace_back(assign_lunch_partner, std::ref(dave), std::ref(bob));

for (auto& thread : threads)
thread.join();
std::cout << alice.partners() << '\n' << bob.partners() << '\n'
<< christina.partners() << '\n' << dave.partners() << '\n';
}

Possible output:¶

Alice and Bob are waiting for locks
Alice and Bob got locks
Christina and Bob are waiting for locks
Christina and Alice are waiting for locks
Dave and Bob are waiting for locks
Dave and Bob got locks
Christina and Alice got locks
Christina and Bob got locks
Employee Alice has lunch partners: Bob, Christina
Employee Bob has lunch partners: Alice, Dave, Christina
Employee Christina has lunch partners: Alice, Bob
Employee Dave has lunch partners: Bob

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 2981 C++17 redundant deduction guide from removed
scoped_lock<MutexTypes...> was provided

See also¶

unique_lock implements movable mutex ownership wrapper
(C++11) (class template)
lock_guard implements a strictly scope-based mutex ownership wrapper
(C++11) (class template)