Linux Threads

To invoke threads a data structure is utilized.

Thread Data Types

• pthread_t
• pthread_mutex_t - Mutex
• pthread_cond_t - Condition variable
• pthread_key_t - Access key for thread data.
• pthread_attr_t - Thread attributes
• pthread_mutexattr_t - Mutex attributes
• pthread_condattr_t - Condition variable attributes
• pthread_once_t - One time initialization

Thread Structure and Thread Functions

1. pthread_t
2. int pthread_create (pthread_t *thread, const pthread_attr_t *attr, void *(*start)(void *), void *arg); - The thread identifier which is needed to do anything with the thread is the value returned in the first argument, *thread . The third argument is the address of the thread routine to run.
3. pthread_t pthread_self (void);
4. int pthread_detach (pthread_t thread); - Allows the system resources for the thread to be released when the thread exits.
5. int pthread_join (pthread_t thread, void **value_ptr); - Blocks until the thread specified terminates. It will optionally store the return value of the terminated thread.
6. int pthread_exit (void *value_ptr);
7. int pthread_equal (pthread_t thr1, pthread_t thr2); - Returns 0 value if the threads are not equal and non-zero if they are the same thread.
8. pthread_t pthread_self (void); - Allows a thread to get its own identifier.