Initializing a Condition Variable

Use pthread_cond_init(3C) to initialize the condition variable pointed at by cv to its default value, or to specify condition variable attributes that are already set with pthread_condattr_init().

pthread_cond_init Syntax

int pthread_cond_init(pthread_cond_t *restrict cv,
          const pthread_condattr_t *restrict cattr);

#include <pthread.h>

pthread_cond_t cv;
pthread_condattr_t cattr;
int ret;

/* initialize a condition variable to its default value */
ret = pthread_cond_init(&cv, NULL);

/* initialize a condition variable */
ret = pthread_cond_init(&cv, &cattr); 

The effect of cattr set to NULL is the same as passing the address of a default condition variable attribute object, but without the memory overhead.

Use the macro PTHREAD_COND_INITIALIZER to initialize statically defined condition variables to their default attributes. The PTHREAD_COND_INITIALIZER macro has the same effect as dynamically allocating pthread_cond_init() with null attributes. No error checking is done.

Multiple threads must not simultaneously initialize or reinitialize the same condition variable. If a condition variable is reinitialized or is destroyed, the application must be sure that the condition variable is not in use.

pthread_cond_init Return Values

pthread_cond_init() returns zero after completing successfully. Any other return value indicates that an error occurred. When any of the following conditions occurs, the function fails and returns the corresponding value.

EINVAL

Description:

The value specified by cattr is invalid.

EBUSY

Description:

The condition variable is being used.

EAGAIN

Description:

The necessary resources are not available.

ENOMEM

Description:

Insufficient memory exists to initialize the condition variable.