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.Dd August 13, 2001
.Dt SEMA 9
.Os
.Sh NAME
.Nm sema ,
.Nm sema_init ,
.Nm sema_destroy ,
.Nm sema_post ,
.Nm sema_wait ,
.Nm sema_timedwait ,
.Nm sema_trywait ,
.Nm sema_value
.Nd kernel counting semaphore
.Sh SYNOPSIS
.In sys/sema.h
.Ft void
.Fn sema_init "struct sema *sema" "int value" "const char *description"
.Ft void
.Fn sema_destroy "struct sema *sema"
.Ft void
.Fn sema_post "struct sema *sema"
.Ft void
.Fn sema_wait "struct sema *sema"
.Ft int
.Fn sema_timedwait "struct sema *sema" "int timo"
.Ft int
.Fn sema_trywait "struct sema *sema"
.Ft int
.Fn sema_value "struct sema *sema"
.Sh DESCRIPTION
Counting semaphores provide a mechanism for synchronizing access to a pool of
resources.
Unlike mutexes, semaphores do not have the concept of an owner, so they can also
be useful in situations where one thread needs to acquire a resource, and
another thread needs to release it.
Each semaphore has an integer value associated with it.
Posting (incrementing) always succeeds, but waiting (decrementing) can only
successfully complete if the resulting value of the semaphore is greater than or
equal to zero.
.Pp
Semaphores should not be used where mutexes and condition variables
will suffice.
Semaphores are a more complex synchronization mechanism than mutexes and
condition variables, and are not as efficient.
.Pp
Semaphores are created with
.Fn sema_init ,
where
.Fa sema
is a pointer to space for a
.Vt "struct sema" ,
.Fa value
is the initial value of the semaphore, and
.Fa description
is a pointer to a null-terminated character string that describes the semaphore.
Semaphores are destroyed with
.Fn sema_destroy .
A semaphore is posted (incremented) with
.Fn sema_post .
A semaphore is waited on (decremented) with
.Fn sema_wait ,
.Fn sema_timedwait ,
or
.Fn sema_trywait .
The
.Fa timo
argument to
.Fn sema_timedwait
specifies the minimum time in ticks to wait before returning with failure.
.Fn sema_value
returns the current value of the semaphore.
.Pp
.Fn sema_timedwait
and
.Fn sema_trywait
will return 0 if waiting on the semaphore failed; otherwise a non-zero value
will be returned to indicate success.
.Sh SEE ALSO
.Xr condvar 9 ,
.Xr mutex 9