# Struct ethcore_util::standard::RwLock [−]

    pub struct RwLock<T> where T: ?Sized { /* fields omitted */ }

A reader-writer lock

This type of lock allows a number of readers or at most one writer at any point in time. The write portion of this lock typically allows modification of the underlying data (exclusive access) and the read portion of this lock typically allows for read-only access (shared access).

This lock uses a task-fair locking policy which avoids both reader and writer starvation. This means that readers trying to acquire the lock will block even if the lock is unlocked when there are writers waiting to acquire the lock. Because of this, attempts to recursively acquire a read lock within a single thread may result in a deadlock.

The type parameter `T` represents the data that this lock protects. It is required that `T` satisfies `Send` to be shared across threads and `Sync` to allow concurrent access through readers. The RAII guards returned from the locking methods implement `Deref` (and `DerefMut` for the `write` methods) to allow access to the contained of the lock.

# Fairness

A typical unfair lock can often end up in a situation where a single thread quickly acquires and releases the same lock in succession, which can starve other threads waiting to acquire the rwlock. While this improves performance because it doesn't force a context switch when a thread tries to re-acquire a rwlock it has just released, this can starve other threads.

This rwlock uses eventual fairness to ensure that the lock will be fair on average without sacrificing performance. This is done by forcing a fair unlock on average every 0.5ms, which will force the lock to go to the next thread waiting for the rwlock.

Additionally, any critical section longer than 1ms will always use a fair unlock, which has a negligible performance impact compared to the length of the critical section.

You can also force a fair unlock by calling `RwLockReadGuard::unlock_fair` or `RwLockWriteGuard::unlock_fair` when unlocking a mutex instead of simply dropping the guard.

# Differences from the standard library `RwLock`

- Supports atomically downgrading a write lock into a read lock.
- Task-fair locking policy instead of an unspecified platform default.
- No poisoning, the lock is released normally on panic.
- Only requires 1 word of space, whereas the standard library boxes the `RwLock` due to platform limitations.
- A lock guard can be sent to another thread and unlocked there.
- Can be statically constructed (requires the `const_fn` nightly feature).
- Does not require any drop glue when dropped.
- Inline fast path for the uncontended case.
- Efficient handling of micro-contention using adaptive spinning.
- Allows raw locking & unlocking without a guard.
- Supports eventual fairness so that the rwlock is fair on average.
- Optionally allows making the rwlock fair by calling `RwLockReadGuard::unlock_fair` and `RwLockWriteGuard::unlock_fair`.

# Examples

    use parking_lot::RwLock;

    let lock = RwLock::new(5);

    // many reader locks can be held at once
    {
        let r1 = lock.read();
        let r2 = lock.read();
        assert_eq!(*r1, 5);
        assert_eq!(*r2, 5);
    } // read locks are dropped at this point

    // only one write lock may be held, however
    {
        let mut w = lock.write();
        *w += 1;
        assert_eq!(*w, 6);
    } // write lock is dropped here

## Methods

### `impl<T> RwLock<T>`

#### `fn new(val: T) -> RwLock<T>`

Creates a new instance of an `RwLock<T>` which is unlocked.

# Examples

    use parking_lot::RwLock;

    let lock = RwLock::new(5);

#### `fn into_inner(self) -> T`

Consumes this `RwLock`, returning the underlying data.

### `impl<T> RwLock<T> where T: ?Sized`

#### `fn read(&self) -> RwLockReadGuard<T>`

Locks this rwlock with shared read access, blocking the current thread until it can be acquired.

The calling thread will be blocked until there are no more writers which hold the lock. There may be other readers currently inside the lock when this method returns.

Note that attempts to recursively acquire a read lock on a `RwLock` when the current thread already holds one may result in a deadlock.

Returns an RAII guard which will release this thread's shared access once it is dropped.

#### `fn try_read(&self) -> Option<RwLockReadGuard<T>>`

Attempts to acquire this rwlock with shared read access.

If the access could not be granted at this time, then `None` is returned. Otherwise, an RAII guard is returned which will release the shared access when it is dropped.

This function does not block.

#### `fn try_read_for(&self, timeout: Duration) -> Option<RwLockReadGuard<T>>`

Attempts to acquire this rwlock with shared read access until a timeout is reached.

If the access could not be granted before the timeout expires, then `None` is returned. Otherwise, an RAII guard is returned which will release the shared access when it is dropped.

#### `fn try_read_until(&self, timeout: Instant) -> Option<RwLockReadGuard<T>>`

Attempts to acquire this rwlock with shared read access until a timeout is reached.

If the access could not be granted before the timeout expires, then `None` is returned. Otherwise, an RAII guard is returned which will release the shared access when it is dropped.

#### `fn write(&self) -> RwLockWriteGuard<T>`

Locks this rwlock with exclusive write access, blocking the current thread until it can be acquired.

This function will not return while other writers or other readers currently have access to the lock.

Returns an RAII guard which will drop the write access of this rwlock when dropped.

#### `fn try_write(&self) -> Option<RwLockWriteGuard<T>>`

Attempts to lock this rwlock with exclusive write access.

If the lock could not be acquired at this time, then `None` is returned. Otherwise, an RAII guard is returned which will release the lock when it is dropped.

This function does not block.

#### `fn try_write_for(&self, timeout: Duration) -> Option<RwLockWriteGuard<T>>`

Attempts to acquire this rwlock with exclusive write access until a timeout is reached.

If the access could not be granted before the timeout expires, then `None` is returned. Otherwise, an RAII guard is returned which will release the exclusive access when it is dropped.

#### `fn try_write_until(&self, timeout: Instant) -> Option<RwLockWriteGuard<T>>`

Attempts to acquire this rwlock with exclusive write access until a timeout is reached.

If the access could not be granted before the timeout expires, then `None` is returned. Otherwise, an RAII guard is returned which will release the exclusive access when it is dropped.

#### `fn get_mut(&mut self) -> &mut T`

Returns a mutable reference to the underlying data.

Since this call borrows the `RwLock` mutably, no actual locking needs to take place---the mutable borrow statically guarantees no locks exist.

#### `unsafe fn raw_unlock_read(&self)`

Releases shared read access of the rwlock.

# Safety

This function must only be called if the rwlock was locked using `raw_read` or `raw_try_read`, or if an `RwLockReadGuard` from this rwlock was leaked (e.g. with `mem::forget`). The rwlock must be locked with shared read access.

#### `unsafe fn raw_unlock_write(&self)`

Releases exclusive write access of the rwlock.

# Safety

This function must only be called if the rwlock was locked using `raw_write` or `raw_try_write`, or if an `RwLockWriteGuard` from this rwlock was leaked (e.g. with `mem::forget`). The rwlock must be locked with exclusive write access.

#### `unsafe fn raw_unlock_read_fair(&self)`

Releases shared read access of the rwlock using a fair unlock protocol.

See `RwLockReadGuard::unlock_fair`.

# Safety

This function must only be called if the rwlock was locked using `raw_read` or `raw_try_read`, or if an `RwLockReadGuard` from this rwlock was leaked (e.g. with `mem::forget`). The rwlock must be locked with shared read access.

#### `unsafe fn raw_unlock_write_fair(&self)`

Releases exclusive write access of the rwlock using a fair unlock protocol.

See `RwLockWriteGuard::unlock_fair`.

# Safety

This function must only be called if the rwlock was locked using `raw_write` or `raw_try_write`, or if an `RwLockWriteGuard` from this rwlock was leaked (e.g. with `mem::forget`). The rwlock must be locked with exclusive write access.

### `impl RwLock<()>`

#### `fn raw_read(&self)`

Locks this rwlock with shared read access, blocking the current thread until it can be acquired.

This is similar to `read`, except that a `RwLockReadGuard` is not returned. Instead you will need to call `raw_unlock` to release the rwlock.

#### `fn raw_try_read(&self) -> bool`

Attempts to acquire this rwlock with shared read access.

This is similar to `read`, except that a `RwLockReadGuard` is not returned. Instead you will need to call `raw_unlock` to release the rwlock.

#### `fn raw_write(&self)`

Locks this rwlock with exclusive write access, blocking the current thread until it can be acquired.

This is similar to `read`, except that a `RwLockReadGuard` is not returned. Instead you will need to call `raw_unlock` to release the rwlock.

#### `fn raw_try_write(&self) -> bool`

Attempts to lock this rwlock with exclusive write access.

This is similar to `read`, except that a `RwLockReadGuard` is not returned. Instead you will need to call `raw_unlock` to release the rwlock.

## Trait Implementations

### `impl<T> Default for RwLock<T> where T: Default + ?Sized`

#### `fn default() -> RwLock<T>`

Returns the "default value" for a type. Read more

### `impl<T> Sync for RwLock<T> where T: Send + Sync + ?Sized`

### `impl<T> Debug for RwLock<T> where T: Debug + ?Sized`

#### `fn fmt(&self, f: &mut Formatter) -> Result<(), Error>`

Formats the value using the given formatter.

### `impl<T> Send for RwLock<T> where T: Send + ?Sized`

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