Semaphore Class

Definition

Namespace:

System.Threading

Assembly:

System.Threading.dll

Source:

Semaphore.cs

Limits the number of threads that can access a resource or pool of resources concurrently.

public ref class Semaphore sealed : System::Threading::WaitHandle

public sealed class Semaphore : System.Threading.WaitHandle

type Semaphore = class
    inherit WaitHandle

Public NotInheritable Class Semaphore
Inherits WaitHandle

Inheritance

Object

MarshalByRefObject

WaitHandle

Semaphore

Examples

The following code example creates a semaphore with a maximum count of three and an initial count of zero. The example starts five threads, which block waiting for the semaphore. The main thread uses the Release(Int32) method overload to increase the semaphore count to its maximum, allowing three threads to enter the semaphore. Each thread uses the Thread.Sleep method to wait for one second, to simulate work, and then calls the Release() method overload to release the semaphore. Each time the semaphore is released, the previous semaphore count is displayed. Console messages track semaphore use. The simulated work interval is increased slightly for each thread, to make the output easier to read.

#using <System.dll>
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Threading;

public ref class Example
{
private:
   // A semaphore that simulates a limited resource pool.
   //
   static Semaphore^ _pool;

   // A padding interval to make the output more orderly.
   static int _padding;

public:
   static void Main()
   {
      // Create a semaphore that can satisfy up to three
      // concurrent requests. Use an initial count of zero,
      // so that the entire semaphore count is initially
      // owned by the main program thread.
      //
      _pool = gcnew Semaphore( 0,3 );
      
      // Create and start five numbered threads.
      //
      for ( int i = 1; i <= 5; i++ )
      {
         Thread^ t = gcnew Thread(
            gcnew ParameterizedThreadStart( Worker ) );
         
         // Start the thread, passing the number.
         //
         t->Start( i );
      }
      
      // Wait for half a second, to allow all the
      // threads to start and to block on the semaphore.
      //
      Thread::Sleep( 500 );
      
      // The main thread starts out holding the entire
      // semaphore count. Calling Release(3) brings the
      // semaphore count back to its maximum value, and
      // allows the waiting threads to enter the semaphore,
      // up to three at a time.
      //
      Console::WriteLine( L"Main thread calls Release(3)." );
      _pool->Release( 3 );

      Console::WriteLine( L"Main thread exits." );
   }

private:
   static void Worker( Object^ num )
   {
      // Each worker thread begins by requesting the
      // semaphore.
      Console::WriteLine( L"Thread {0} begins and waits for the semaphore.", num );
      _pool->WaitOne();
      
      // A padding interval to make the output more orderly.
      int padding = Interlocked::Add( _padding, 100 );

      Console::WriteLine( L"Thread {0} enters the semaphore.", num );
      
      // The thread's "work" consists of sleeping for
      // about a second. Each thread "works" a little
      // longer, just to make the output more orderly.
      //
      Thread::Sleep( 1000 + padding );

      Console::WriteLine( L"Thread {0} releases the semaphore.", num );
      Console::WriteLine( L"Thread {0} previous semaphore count: {1}",
         num, _pool->Release() );
   }
};

using System;
using System.Threading;

public class Example
{
    // A semaphore that simulates a limited resource pool.
    //
    private static Semaphore _pool;

    // A padding interval to make the output more orderly.
    private static int _padding;

    public static void Main()
    {
        // Create a semaphore that can satisfy up to three
        // concurrent requests. Use an initial count of zero,
        // so that the entire semaphore count is initially
        // owned by the main program thread.
        //
        _pool = new Semaphore(initialCount: 0, maximumCount: 3);

        // Create and start five numbered threads. 
        //
        for(int i = 1; i <= 5; i++)
        {
            Thread t = new Thread(new ParameterizedThreadStart(Worker));

            // Start the thread, passing the number.
            //
            t.Start(i);
        }

        // Wait for half a second, to allow all the
        // threads to start and to block on the semaphore.
        //
        Thread.Sleep(500);

        // The main thread starts out holding the entire
        // semaphore count. Calling Release(3) brings the 
        // semaphore count back to its maximum value, and
        // allows the waiting threads to enter the semaphore,
        // up to three at a time.
        //
        Console.WriteLine("Main thread calls Release(3).");
        _pool.Release(releaseCount: 3);

        Console.WriteLine("Main thread exits.");
    }

    private static void Worker(object num)
    {
        // Each worker thread begins by requesting the
        // semaphore.
        Console.WriteLine("Thread {0} begins " +
            "and waits for the semaphore.", num);
        _pool.WaitOne();

        // A padding interval to make the output more orderly.
        int padding = Interlocked.Add(ref _padding, 100);

        Console.WriteLine("Thread {0} enters the semaphore.", num);
        
        // The thread's "work" consists of sleeping for 
        // about a second. Each thread "works" a little 
        // longer, just to make the output more orderly.
        //
        Thread.Sleep(1000 + padding);

        Console.WriteLine("Thread {0} releases the semaphore.", num);
        Console.WriteLine("Thread {0} previous semaphore count: {1}",
            num, _pool.Release());
    }
}

Imports System.Threading

Public Class Example

    ' A semaphore that simulates a limited resource pool.
    '
    Private Shared _pool As Semaphore

    ' A padding interval to make the output more orderly.
    Private Shared _padding As Integer

    <MTAThread> _
    Public Shared Sub Main()
        ' Create a semaphore that can satisfy up to three
        ' concurrent requests. Use an initial count of zero,
        ' so that the entire semaphore count is initially
        ' owned by the main program thread.
        '
        _pool = New Semaphore(0, 3)

        ' Create and start five numbered threads. 
        '
        For i As Integer = 1 To 5
            Dim t As New Thread(New ParameterizedThreadStart(AddressOf Worker))
            'Dim t As New Thread(AddressOf Worker)

            ' Start the thread, passing the number.
            '
            t.Start(i)
        Next i

        ' Wait for half a second, to allow all the
        ' threads to start and to block on the semaphore.
        '
        Thread.Sleep(500)

        ' The main thread starts out holding the entire
        ' semaphore count. Calling Release(3) brings the 
        ' semaphore count back to its maximum value, and
        ' allows the waiting threads to enter the semaphore,
        ' up to three at a time.
        '
        Console.WriteLine("Main thread calls Release(3).")
        _pool.Release(3)

        Console.WriteLine("Main thread exits.")
    End Sub

    Private Shared Sub Worker(ByVal num As Object)
        ' Each worker thread begins by requesting the
        ' semaphore.
        Console.WriteLine("Thread {0} begins " _
            & "and waits for the semaphore.", num)
        _pool.WaitOne()

        ' A padding interval to make the output more orderly.
        Dim padding As Integer = Interlocked.Add(_padding, 100)

        Console.WriteLine("Thread {0} enters the semaphore.", num)
        
        ' The thread's "work" consists of sleeping for 
        ' about a second. Each thread "works" a little 
        ' longer, just to make the output more orderly.
        '
        Thread.Sleep(1000 + padding)

        Console.WriteLine("Thread {0} releases the semaphore.", num)
        Console.WriteLine("Thread {0} previous semaphore count: {1}", _
            num, _
            _pool.Release())
    End Sub
End Class

Remarks

Use the Semaphore class to control access to a pool of resources. Threads enter the semaphore by calling the WaitOne method, which is inherited from the WaitHandle class, and release the semaphore by calling the Release method.

The count on a semaphore is decremented each time a thread enters the semaphore, and incremented when a thread releases the semaphore. When the count is zero, subsequent requests block until other threads release the semaphore. When all threads have released the semaphore, the count is at the maximum value specified when the semaphore was created.

There is no guaranteed order, such as FIFO or LIFO, in which blocked threads enter the semaphore.

A thread can enter the semaphore multiple times, by calling the WaitOne method repeatedly. To release some or all of these entries, the thread can call the parameterless Release() method overload multiple times, or it can call the Release(Int32) method overload that specifies the number of entries to be released.

The Semaphore class does not enforce thread identity on calls to WaitOne or Release. It is the programmer's responsibility to ensure that threads do not release the semaphore too many times. For example, suppose a semaphore has a maximum count of two, and that thread A and thread B both enter the semaphore. If a programming error in thread B causes it to call Release twice, both calls succeed. The count on the semaphore is full, and when thread A eventually calls Release, a SemaphoreFullException is thrown.

Semaphores are of two types: local semaphores and named system semaphores. If you create a Semaphore object using a constructor that accepts a name, it is associated with an operating-system semaphore of that name. Named system semaphores are visible throughout the operating system, and can be used to synchronize the activities of processes. You can create multiple Semaphore objects that represent the same named system semaphore, and you can use the OpenExisting method to open an existing named system semaphore.

A local semaphore exists only within your process. It can be used by any thread in your process that has a reference to the local Semaphore object. Each Semaphore object is a separate local semaphore.

Caution

By default, a named semaphore is not restricted to the user that created it. Other users may be able to open and use the semaphore, including interfering with the semaphore by acquiring the semaphore multiple times and not releasing it. To restrict access to specific users, you can use a constructor overload or SemaphoreAcl and pass in a SemaphoreSecurity when creating the named semaphore. Avoid using named semaphores without access restrictions on systems that might have untrusted users running code.

Constructors

Semaphore(Int32, Int32, String, Boolean)	Initializes a new instance of the Semaphore class, specifying the initial number of entries and the maximum number of concurrent entries, optionally specifying the name of a system semaphore object, and specifying a variable that receives a value indicating whether a new system semaphore was created.
Semaphore(Int32, Int32, String)	Initializes a new instance of the Semaphore class, specifying the initial number of entries and the maximum number of concurrent entries, and optionally specifying the name of a system semaphore object.
Semaphore(Int32, Int32)	Initializes a new instance of the Semaphore class, specifying the initial number of entries and the maximum number of concurrent entries.

Fields

WaitTimeout

Indicates that a WaitAny(WaitHandle[], Int32, Boolean) operation timed out before any of the wait handles were signaled. This field is constant. (Inherited from WaitHandle)

Properties

Handle	Obsolete. Gets or sets the native operating system handle. (Inherited from WaitHandle)
SafeWaitHandle	Gets or sets the native operating system handle. (Inherited from WaitHandle)

Methods

Close()	Releases all resources held by the current WaitHandle. (Inherited from WaitHandle)
CreateObjRef(Type)	Creates an object that contains all the relevant information required to generate a proxy used to communicate with a remote object. (Inherited from MarshalByRefObject)
Dispose()	Releases all resources used by the current instance of the WaitHandle class. (Inherited from WaitHandle)
Dispose(Boolean)	When overridden in a derived class, releases the unmanaged resources used by the WaitHandle, and optionally releases the managed resources. (Inherited from WaitHandle)
Equals(Object)	Determines whether the specified object is equal to the current object. (Inherited from Object)
GetHashCode()	Serves as the default hash function. (Inherited from Object)
GetLifetimeService()	Obsolete. Retrieves the current lifetime service object that controls the lifetime policy for this instance. (Inherited from MarshalByRefObject)
GetType()	Gets the Type of the current instance. (Inherited from Object)
InitializeLifetimeService()	Obsolete. Obtains a lifetime service object to control the lifetime policy for this instance. (Inherited from MarshalByRefObject)
MemberwiseClone()	Creates a shallow copy of the current Object. (Inherited from Object)
MemberwiseClone(Boolean)	Creates a shallow copy of the current MarshalByRefObject object. (Inherited from MarshalByRefObject)
OpenExisting(String)	Opens the specified named semaphore, if it already exists.
Release()	Exits the semaphore and returns the previous count.
Release(Int32)	Exits the semaphore a specified number of times and returns the previous count.
ToString()	Returns a string that represents the current object. (Inherited from Object)
TryOpenExisting(String, Semaphore)	Opens the specified named semaphore, if it already exists, and returns a value that indicates whether the operation succeeded.
WaitOne()	Blocks the current thread until the current WaitHandle receives a signal. (Inherited from WaitHandle)
WaitOne(Int32, Boolean)	Blocks the current thread until the current WaitHandle receives a signal, using a 32-bit signed integer to specify the time interval and specifying whether to exit the synchronization domain before the wait. (Inherited from WaitHandle)
WaitOne(Int32)	Blocks the current thread until the current WaitHandle receives a signal, using a 32-bit signed integer to specify the time interval in milliseconds. (Inherited from WaitHandle)
WaitOne(TimeSpan, Boolean)	Blocks the current thread until the current instance receives a signal, using a TimeSpan to specify the time interval and specifying whether to exit the synchronization domain before the wait. (Inherited from WaitHandle)
WaitOne(TimeSpan)	Blocks the current thread until the current instance receives a signal, using a TimeSpan to specify the time interval. (Inherited from WaitHandle)

Extension Methods

GetSafeWaitHandle(WaitHandle)	Gets the safe handle for a native operating system wait handle.
SetSafeWaitHandle(WaitHandle, SafeWaitHandle)	Sets a safe handle for a native operating system wait handle.

Thread Safety

This type is thread safe.

See also

• Managed Threading
• Semaphore