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# QSemaphore Class Reference

The QSemaphore class provides a robust integer semaphore. More...

All the functions in this class are thread-safe when Qt is built with thread support.

`#include <qsemaphore.h>`

List of all member functions.

## Public Members

- QSemaphore ( int maxcount )
- virtual ~QSemaphore ()
- int available () const
- int total () const
- int operator++ ( int )
- int operator-- ( int )
- int operator+= ( int n )
- int operator-= ( int n )
- bool tryAccess ( int n )

## Detailed Description

The QSemaphore class provides a robust integer semaphore.

A QSemaphore can be used to serialize thread execution, in a similar way to a QMutex. A semaphore differs from a mutex, in that a semaphore can be accessed by more than one thread at a time.

For example, suppose we have an application that stores data in a large tree structure. The application creates 10 threads (commonly called a thread pool) to perform searches on the tree. When the application searches the tree for some piece of data, it uses one thread per base node to do the searching. A semaphore could be used to make sure that two threads don't try to search the same branch of the tree at the same time.

A non-computing example of a semaphore would be dining at a restuarant. A semaphore is initialized to have a maximum count equal to the number of chairs in the restuarant. As people arrive, they want a seat. As seats are filled, the semaphore is accessed, once per person. As people leave, the access is released, allowing more people to enter. If a party of 10 people want to be seated, but there are only 9 seats, those 10 people will wait, but a party of 4 people would be seated (taking the available seats to 5, making the party of 10 people wait longer).

When a semaphore is created it is given a number which is the maximum number of concurrent accesses it will permit. Accesses to the sempahore are gained using operator++() or operator+=(), and released with operator--() or operator-=(). The number of accesses allowed is retrieved with available(), and the total number with total(). Note that the incrementing functions will block if there aren't enough available accesses. Use tryAccess() if you want to acquire accesses without blocking.

See also Environment Classes and Threading.

## Member Function Documentation

### QSemaphore::QSemaphore ( int maxcount )

Creates a new semaphore. The semaphore can be concurrently accessed at most maxcount times.

### QSemaphore::~QSemaphore ()`[virtual]`

Destroys the semaphore.

Warning: If you destroy a semaphore that has accesses in use the resultant behavior is undefined.

### int QSemaphore::available () const

Returns the number of accesses currently available to the semaphore.

### int QSemaphore::operator++ ( int )

Postfix ++ operator.

Try to get access to the semaphore. If available() == 0, this call will block until it can get access, i.e. until available() > 0.

### int QSemaphore::operator+= ( int n )

Try to get access to the semaphore. If available() < n, this call will block until it can get all the accesses it wants, i.e. until available() >= n.

### int QSemaphore::operator-- ( int )

Postfix -- operator.

Release access of the semaphore. This wakes all threads waiting for access to the semaphore.

### int QSemaphore::operator-= ( int n )

Release n accesses to the semaphore.

### int QSemaphore::total () const

Returns the total number of accesses to the semaphore.

### bool QSemaphore::tryAccess ( int n )

Try to get access to the semaphore. If available() < n, this function will return FALSE immediately. If available() >= n, this function will take n accesses and return TRUE. This function does not block.

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