Safe data sharing between concurrent tasks
Immutable data and thread-local storage are fundamental concepts for concurrency and can greatly simplify thread-safe programming. Let’s explore them in detail.
Immutable data
Immutable data is a fundamental concept where an object’s state cannot be changed once it is created. Any attempt to modify such objects results in the creation of new ones, leaving the original untouched. This is in stark contrast to mutable data, where the state of an object can be directly altered after its creation.
Its benefits are as follows:
- It eliminates the need for synchronization: When immutable data is shared across threads, there is no need for synchronization mechanisms such as locks or semaphores
- Enhances thread safety: Immutability by its very nature guarantees thread-safe operations
- Simplifies reasoning: With immutability, there’s no concern about unexpected changes from other threads, making the code more...
