Question

A semaphore :

a) is a binary mutex
b) must be accessed from only one process
c) can be accessed from multiple processes
d) None of these

Answer 1

A semaphore is a synchronization mechanism that can be accessed by multiple processes to control access to shared resources, ensuring proper synchronization and preventing race conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

A semaphore is a synchronization mechanism that is used to control access to a shared resource in a concurrent system, such as a multitasking operating system. Answering the question, a semaphore:

• (a) is not strictly a binary mutex, although a binary semaphore with a value of 1 serves a similar purpose as a mutex.
• (b) does not have to be accessed from only one process. In fact, they are designed to synchronize access among multiple processes.
• (c) can be accessed from multiple processes, which is the correct option for the given choices. A semaphore can be used to signal and wait operations by multiple processes to ensure proper synchronization.
• (d) None of these is not a correct choice.

In summary, semaphores are designed to help manage concurrency in systems by allowing multiple processes to access shared resources in a controlled manner, preventing race conditions and ensuring data integrity.