8.9. mutex — Mutual exclusion support — Python 2.7.12 documentation

# 8.9. `mutex` — Mutual exclusion support

Deprecated since version 2.6: The `mutex` module has been removed in Python 3.

The `mutex` module defines a class that allows mutual-exclusion via acquiring and releasing locks. It does not require (or imply) `threading` or multi-tasking, though it could be useful for those purposes.

The `mutex` module defines the following class:

class `mutex.` `mutex`

  Create a new (unlocked) mutex.

  A mutex has two pieces of state — a “locked” bit and a queue. When the mutex is not locked, the queue is empty. Otherwise, the queue contains zero or more `(function, argument)` pairs representing functions (or methods) waiting to acquire the lock. When the mutex is unlocked while the queue is not empty, the first queue entry is removed and its `function(argument)` pair called, implying it now has the lock.

  Of course, no multi-threading is implied – hence the funny interface for `lock()`, where a function is called once the lock is acquired.

## 8.9.1. Mutex Objects

`mutex` objects have following methods:

`mutex.` `test`()

  Check whether the mutex is locked.

`mutex.` `testandset`()

  “Atomic” test-and-set, grab the lock if it is not set, and return `True`, otherwise, return `False`.

`mutex.` `lock`(function, argument)

  Execute `function(argument)`, unless the mutex is locked. In the case it is locked, place the function and argument on the queue. See `unlock()` for explanation of when `function(argument)` is executed in that case.

`mutex.` `unlock`()

  Unlock the mutex if queue is empty, otherwise execute the first element in the queue.