Definition
A synchronization primitive that controls access to a resource by maintaining a count of available permits, allowing multiple threads to access the resource up to a specified limit. Unlike a mutex, semaphores can allow controlled concurrent access.
Etymology
From Greek 'sema' (sign) and 'phoros' (bearing), originally referring to visual signaling systems. Computer scientist Edsger Dijkstra adapted the term in 1965 for computing, as semaphores 'signal' the availability of resources to waiting processes.
Kelly Says
A semaphore is like a parking lot with a limited number of spaces and a digital sign showing how many spots are available. Cars (threads) can enter if spaces are available, and the counter decreases; when they leave, the counter goes back up for the next car!
Translations
AFAfrikaans
semafor
se-ma-for
BGБългарски
семафор
se-ma-for
CACatalà
semàfor
se-MA-for
CSČeština
semafor
se-ma-for
DADansk
semafor
se-ma-for
DEDeutsch
Semaphor
ze-ma-FOR
ELΕλληνικά
σηματοφόρος
si-ma-to-FO-ros
ESEspañol
semáforo
se-MA-fo-ro
ETEesti
semafor
se-ma-for
EUEuskara
semaforo
se-ma-FO-ro
FAفارسی
سیگنال
si-ghe-nal
FISuomi
semafori
se-ma-FO-ri
FRFrançais
sémaphore
se-ma-FOR
GLGalego
semáforo
se-MA-fo-ro
HRHrvatski
semafor
se-ma-for
HUMagyar
szemafor
se-ma-for
IDBahasa Indonesia
semafor
se-ma-for
ITItaliano
semaforo
se-MA-fo-ro
LTLietuvių
semaforas
se-ma-FO-ras
LVLatviešu
semafor
se-ma-for
MSBahasa Melayu
semafor
se-ma-for
MYမြန်မာ
အချက်ပြမှု
a-chyet-pya-hmu
NLNederlands
semafor
se-ma-FOR
NONorsk
semafor
se-ma-for
PLPolski
semafor
se-ma-for
PTPortuguês
semáforo
se-MA-fo-ro
RORomână
semafor
se-ma-for
RUРусский
семафор
sye-ma-FOR
SKSlovenčina
semafor
se-ma-for
SLSlovenščina
semafor
se-ma-for
SRСрпски
семафор
se-ma-for
SVSvenska
semafor
se-ma-for
SWKiswahili
ishara
i-SHA-ra
TAதமிழ்
சமிக்ஞை
sa-mik-nyai
TRTürkçe
semafor
se-ma-FOR
UKУкраїнська
семафор
se-ma-FOR
VITiếng Việt
tín hiệu
tin hieu