29 Atomic operations library [atomics]

29.1 General [atomics.general]

This Clause describes components for fine-grained atomic access. This access is provided via operations on atomic objects.

The following subclauses describe atomics requirements and components for types and operations, as summarized below.

Table 145 — Atomics library summary
Subclause Header(s)
[atomics.order] Order and Consistency
[atomics.lockfree] Lock-free Property
[atomics.types.generic] Atomic Types <atomic>
[atomics.types.operations] Operations on Atomic Types
[atomics.flag] Flag Type and Operations
[atomics.fences] Fences

29.2 Header <atomic> synopsis [atomics.syn]

namespace std {
  // [atomics.order], order and consistency
  enum memory_order;
  template <class T>
    T kill_dependency(T y) noexcept;

  // [atomics.lockfree], lock-free property
  #define ATOMIC_BOOL_LOCK_FREE unspecified
  #define ATOMIC_CHAR_LOCK_FREE unspecified
  #define ATOMIC_CHAR16_T_LOCK_FREE unspecified
  #define ATOMIC_CHAR32_T_LOCK_FREE unspecified
  #define ATOMIC_WCHAR_T_LOCK_FREE unspecified
  #define ATOMIC_SHORT_LOCK_FREE unspecified
  #define ATOMIC_INT_LOCK_FREE unspecified
  #define ATOMIC_LONG_LOCK_FREE unspecified
  #define ATOMIC_LLONG_LOCK_FREE unspecified
  #define ATOMIC_POINTER_LOCK_FREE unspecified

  // [atomics.types.generic], generic types
  template<class T> struct atomic;
  template<> struct atomic<integral>;
  template<class T> struct atomic<T*>;

  // [atomics.types.operations.general], general operations on atomic types
  //  In the following declarations, atomic-type is either
  //  atomic<T> or a named base class for T from
  //  Table [tab:atomics.integral] or inferred from Table [tab:atomics.typedefs] or from bool.
  // If it is atomic<T>, then the declaration is a template
  // declaration prefixed with template <class T>.
  bool atomic_is_lock_free(const volatile atomic-type*) noexcept;
  bool atomic_is_lock_free(const atomic-type*) noexcept;
  void atomic_init(volatile atomic-type*, T) noexcept;
  void atomic_init(atomic-type*, T) noexcept;
  void atomic_store(volatile atomic-type*, T) noexcept;
  void atomic_store(atomic-type*, T) noexcept;
  void atomic_store_explicit(volatile atomic-type*, T, memory_order) noexcept;
  void atomic_store_explicit(atomic-type*, T, memory_order) noexcept;
  T atomic_load(const volatile atomic-type*) noexcept;
  T atomic_load(const atomic-type*) noexcept;
  T atomic_load_explicit(const volatile atomic-type*, memory_order) noexcept;
  T atomic_load_explicit(const atomic-type*, memory_order) noexcept;
  T atomic_exchange(volatile atomic-type*, T) noexcept;
  T atomic_exchange(atomic-type*, T) noexcept;
  T atomic_exchange_explicit(volatile atomic-type*, T, memory_order) noexcept;
  T atomic_exchange_explicit(atomic-type*, T, memory_order) noexcept;
  bool atomic_compare_exchange_weak(volatile atomic-type*, T*, T) noexcept;
  bool atomic_compare_exchange_weak(atomic-type*, T*, T) noexcept;
  bool atomic_compare_exchange_strong(volatile atomic-type*, T*, T) noexcept;
  bool atomic_compare_exchange_strong(atomic-type*, T*, T) noexcept;
  bool atomic_compare_exchange_weak_explicit(volatile atomic-type*, T*, T, 
    memory_order, memory_order) noexcept;
  bool atomic_compare_exchange_weak_explicit(atomic-type*, T*, T,
    memory_order, memory_order) noexcept;
  bool atomic_compare_exchange_strong_explicit(volatile atomic-type*, T*, T,
    memory_order, memory_order) noexcept;
  bool atomic_compare_exchange_strong_explicit(atomic-type*, T*, T,
    memory_order, memory_order) noexcept;

  // [atomics.types.operations.templ], templated operations on atomic types
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_add(volatile atomic<T>*, T) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_add(atomic<T>*, T) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_add_explicit(volatile atomic<T>*, T, memory_order) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_add_explicit(atomic<T>*, T, memory_order) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_sub(volatile atomic<T>*, T) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_sub(atomic<T>*, T) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_sub_explicit(volatile atomic<T>*, T, memory_order) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_sub_explicit(atomic<T>*, T, memory_order) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_and(volatile atomic<T>*, T) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_and(atomic<T>*, T) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_and_explicit(volatile atomic<T>*, T, memory_order) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_and_explicit(atomic<T>*, T, memory_order) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_or(volatile atomic<T>*, T) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_or(atomic<T>*, T) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_or_explicit(volatile atomic<T>*, T, memory_order) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_or_explicit(atomic<T>*, T, memory_order) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_xor(volatile atomic<T>*, T) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_xor(atomic<T>*, T) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_xor_explicit(volatile atomic<T>*, T, memory_order) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T atomic_fetch_xor_explicit(atomic<T>*, T, memory_order) noexcept;

  // [atomics.types.operations.arith], arithmetic operations on atomic types
  // In the following declarations, atomic-integral is either
  // atomic<T> or a named base class for T from
  // Table [tab:atomics.integral] or inferred from Table [tab:atomics.typedefs].
  // If it is atomic<T>, then the declaration is a template
  // specialization declaration prefixed with template <>.

  integral atomic_fetch_add(volatile atomic-integral*, integral) noexcept;
  integral atomic_fetch_add(atomic-integral*, integral) noexcept;
  integral atomic_fetch_add_explicit(volatile atomic-integral*, integral, memory_order) noexcept;
  integral atomic_fetch_add_explicit(atomic-integral*, integral, memory_order) noexcept;
  integral atomic_fetch_sub(volatile atomic-integral*, integral) noexcept;
  integral atomic_fetch_sub(atomic-integral*, integral) noexcept;
  integral atomic_fetch_sub_explicit(volatile atomic-integral*, integral, memory_order) noexcept;
  integral atomic_fetch_sub_explicit(atomic-integral*, integral, memory_order) noexcept;
  integral atomic_fetch_and(volatile atomic-integral*, integral) noexcept;
  integral atomic_fetch_and(atomic-integral*, integral) noexcept;
  integral atomic_fetch_and_explicit(volatile atomic-integral*, integral, memory_order) noexcept;
  integral atomic_fetch_and_explicit(atomic-integral*, integral, memory_order) noexcept;
  integral atomic_fetch_or(volatile atomic-integral*, integral) noexcept;
  integral atomic_fetch_or(atomic-integral*, integral) noexcept;
  integral atomic_fetch_or_explicit(volatile atomic-integral*, integral, memory_order) noexcept;
  integral atomic_fetch_or_explicit(atomic-integral*, integral, memory_order) noexcept;
  integral atomic_fetch_xor(volatile atomic-integral*, integral) noexcept;
  integral atomic_fetch_xor(atomic-integral*, integral) noexcept;
  integral atomic_fetch_xor_explicit(volatile atomic-integral*, integral, memory_order) noexcept;
  integral atomic_fetch_xor_explicit(atomic-integral*, integral, memory_order) noexcept;

  // [atomics.types.operations.pointer], partial specializations for pointers

  template <class T>
    T* atomic_fetch_add(volatile atomic<T*>*, ptrdiff_t) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T* atomic_fetch_add(atomic<T*>*, ptrdiff_t) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T* atomic_fetch_add_explicit(volatile atomic<T*>*, ptrdiff_t, memory_order) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T* atomic_fetch_add_explicit(atomic<T*>*, ptrdiff_t, memory_order) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T* atomic_fetch_sub(volatile atomic<T*>*, ptrdiff_t) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T* atomic_fetch_sub(atomic<T*>*, ptrdiff_t) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T* atomic_fetch_sub_explicit(volatile atomic<T*>*, ptrdiff_t, memory_order) noexcept;
  template <class T>
    T* atomic_fetch_sub_explicit(atomic<T*>*, ptrdiff_t, memory_order) noexcept;

  // [atomics.types.operations.req], initialization
  #define ATOMIC_VAR_INIT(value) see below

  // [atomics.flag], flag type and operations
  struct atomic_flag;
  bool atomic_flag_test_and_set(volatile atomic_flag*) noexcept;
  bool atomic_flag_test_and_set(atomic_flag*) noexcept;
  bool atomic_flag_test_and_set_explicit(volatile atomic_flag*, memory_order) noexcept;
  bool atomic_flag_test_and_set_explicit(atomic_flag*, memory_order) noexcept;
  void atomic_flag_clear(volatile atomic_flag*) noexcept;
  void atomic_flag_clear(atomic_flag*) noexcept;
  void atomic_flag_clear_explicit(volatile atomic_flag*, memory_order) noexcept;
  void atomic_flag_clear_explicit(atomic_flag*, memory_order) noexcept;
  #define ATOMIC_FLAG_INIT see below

  // [atomics.fences], fences
  extern "C" void atomic_thread_fence(memory_order) noexcept;
  extern "C" void atomic_signal_fence(memory_order) noexcept;
}

29.3 Order and consistency [atomics.order]

namespace std {
  typedef enum memory_order {
    memory_order_relaxed, memory_order_consume, memory_order_acquire, 
    memory_order_release, memory_order_acq_rel, memory_order_seq_cst
  } memory_order;
}

The enumeration memory_order specifies the detailed regular (non-atomic) memory synchronization order as defined in [intro.multithread] and may provide for operation ordering. Its enumerated values and their meanings are as follows:

  • memory_order_relaxed: no operation orders memory.

  • memory_order_release, memory_order_acq_rel, and memory_order_seq_cst: a store operation performs a release operation on the affected memory location.

  • memory_order_consume: a load operation performs a consume operation on the affected memory location.

  • memory_order_acquire, memory_order_acq_rel, and memory_order_seq_cst: a load operation performs an acquire operation on the affected memory location.

Note: Atomic operations specifying memory_order_relaxed are relaxed with respect to memory ordering. Implementations must still guarantee that any given atomic access to a particular atomic object be indivisible with respect to all other atomic accesses to that object.  — end note ]

An atomic operation A that performs a release operation on an atomic object M synchronizes with an atomic operation B that performs an acquire operation on M and takes its value from any side effect in the release sequence headed by A.

There shall be a single total order S on all memory_order_seq_cst operations, consistent with the “happens before” order and modification orders for all affected locations, such that each memory_order_seq_cst operation B that loads a value from an atomic object M observes one of the following values:

  • the result of the last modification A of M that precedes B in S, if it exists, or

  • if A exists, the result of some modification of M that is not memory_order_seq_cst and that does not happen before A, or

  • if A does not exist, the result of some modification of M that is not memory_order_seq_cst.

Note: Although it is not explicitly required that S include locks, it can always be extended to an order that does include lock and unlock operations, since the ordering between those is already included in the “happens before” ordering.  — end note ]

For an atomic operation B that reads the value of an atomic object M, if there is a memory_order_seq_cst fence X sequenced before B, then B observes either the last memory_order_seq_cst modification of M preceding X in the total order S or a later modification of M in its modification order.

For atomic operations A and B on an atomic object M, where A modifies M and B takes its value, if there is a memory_order_seq_cst fence X such that A is sequenced before X and B follows X in S, then B observes either the effects of A or a later modification of M in its modification order.

For atomic operations A and B on an atomic object M, where A modifies M and B takes its value, if there are memory_order_seq_cst fences X and Y such that A is sequenced before X, Y is sequenced before B, and X precedes Y in S, then B observes either the effects of A or a later modification of M in its modification order.

For atomic modifications A and B of an atomic object M, B occurs later than A in the modification order of M if:

  • there is a memory_order_seq_cst fence X such that A is sequenced before X, and X precedes B in S, or

  • there is a memory_order_seq_cst fence Y such that Y is sequenced before B, and A precedes Y in S, or

  • there are memory_order_seq_cst fences X and Y such that A is sequenced before X, Y is sequenced before B, and X precedes Y in S.

Note: memory_order_seq_cst ensures sequential consistency only for a program that is free of data races and uses exclusively memory_order_seq_cst operations. Any use of weaker ordering will invalidate this guarantee unless extreme care is used. In particular, memory_order_seq_cst fences ensure a total order only for the fences themselves. Fences cannot, in general, be used to restore sequential consistency for atomic operations with weaker ordering specifications.  — end note ]

Implementations should ensure that no “out-of-thin-air” values are computed that circularly depend on their own computation.

Note: For example, with x and y initially zero,

// Thread 1:
r1 = y.load(memory_order_relaxed);
x.store(r1, memory_order_relaxed);
// Thread 2:
r2 = x.load(memory_order_relaxed);
y.store(r2, memory_order_relaxed);

should not produce r1 == r2 == 42, since the store of 42 to y is only possible if the store to x stores 42, which circularly depends on the store to y storing 42. Note that without this restriction, such an execution is possible.  — end note ]

Note: The recommendation similarly disallows r1 == r2 == 42 in the following example, with x and y again initially zero:

// Thread 1:
r1 = x.load(memory_order_relaxed);
if (r1 == 42) y.store(42, memory_order_relaxed);
// Thread 2:
r2 = y.load(memory_order_relaxed);
if (r2 == 42) x.store(42, memory_order_relaxed);

 — end note ]

Atomic read-modify-write operations shall always read the last value (in the modification order) written before the write associated with the read-modify-write operation.

Implementations should make atomic stores visible to atomic loads within a reasonable amount of time.

template <class T> T kill_dependency(T y) noexcept;

Effects: The argument does not carry a dependency to the return value ([intro.multithread]).

Returns: y.

29.4 Lock-free property [atomics.lockfree]

#define ATOMIC_BOOL_LOCK_FREE unspecified
#define ATOMIC_CHAR_LOCK_FREE unspecified
#define ATOMIC_CHAR16_T_LOCK_FREE unspecified
#define ATOMIC_CHAR32_T_LOCK_FREE unspecified
#define ATOMIC_WCHAR_T_LOCK_FREE unspecified
#define ATOMIC_SHORT_LOCK_FREE unspecified
#define ATOMIC_INT_LOCK_FREE unspecified
#define ATOMIC_LONG_LOCK_FREE unspecified
#define ATOMIC_LLONG_LOCK_FREE unspecified
#define ATOMIC_POINTER_LOCK_FREE unspecified

The ATOMIC_..._LOCK_FREE macros indicate the lock-free property of the corresponding atomic types, with the signed and unsigned variants grouped together. The properties also apply to the corresponding (partial) specializations of the atomic template. A value of 0 indicates that the types are never lock-free. A value of 1 indicates that the types are sometimes lock-free. A value of 2 indicates that the types are always lock-free.

The function atomic_is_lock_free ([atomics.types.operations]) indicates whether the object is lock-free. In any given program execution, the result of the lock-free query shall be consistent for all pointers of the same type.

Note: Operations that are lock-free should also be address-free. That is, atomic operations on the same memory location via two different addresses will communicate atomically. The implementation should not depend on any per-process state. This restriction enables communication by memory that is mapped into a process more than once and by memory that is shared between two processes.  — end note ]

29.5 Atomic types [atomics.types.generic]

namespace std {
  template <class T> struct atomic {
    bool is_lock_free() const volatile noexcept;
    bool is_lock_free() const noexcept;
    void store(T, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    void store(T, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;
    T load(memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) const volatile noexcept;
    T load(memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) const noexcept;
    operator T() const volatile noexcept;
    operator T() const noexcept;
    T exchange(T, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    T exchange(T, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_weak(T&, T, memory_order, memory_order) volatile noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_weak(T&, T, memory_order, memory_order) noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_strong(T&, T, memory_order, memory_order) volatile noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_strong(T&, T, memory_order, memory_order) noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_weak(T&, T, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_weak(T&, T, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_strong(T&, T, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_strong(T&, T, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;

    atomic() noexcept = default;
    constexpr atomic(T) noexcept;
    atomic(const atomic&) = delete;
    atomic& operator=(const atomic&) = delete;
    atomic& operator=(const atomic&) volatile = delete;
    T operator=(T) volatile noexcept;
    T operator=(T) noexcept;
  };

  template <> struct atomic<integral> {
    bool is_lock_free() const volatile noexcept;
    bool is_lock_free() const noexcept;
    void store(integral, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    void store(integral, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;
    integral load(memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) const volatile noexcept;
    integral load(memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) const noexcept;
    operator integral() const volatile noexcept;
    operator integral() const noexcept;
    integral exchange(integral, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    integral exchange(integral, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_weak(integral&, integral, memory_order, memory_order) volatile noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_weak(integral&, integral, memory_order, memory_order) noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_strong(integral&, integral, memory_order, memory_order) volatile noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_strong(integral&, integral, memory_order, memory_order) noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_weak(integral&, integral, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_weak(integral&, integral, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_strong(integral&, integral, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_strong(integral&, integral, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;
    integral fetch_add(integral, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    integral fetch_add(integral, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;
    integral fetch_sub(integral, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    integral fetch_sub(integral, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;
    integral fetch_and(integral, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    integral fetch_and(integral, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;
    integral fetch_or(integral, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    integral fetch_or(integral, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;
    integral fetch_xor(integral, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    integral fetch_xor(integral, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;

    atomic() noexcept = default;
    constexpr atomic(integral) noexcept;
    atomic(const atomic&) = delete;
    atomic& operator=(const atomic&) = delete;
    atomic& operator=(const atomic&) volatile = delete;
    integral operator=(integral) volatile noexcept;
    integral operator=(integral) noexcept;

    integral operator++(int) volatile noexcept;
    integral operator++(int) noexcept;
    integral operator--(int) volatile noexcept;
    integral operator--(int) noexcept;
    integral operator++() volatile noexcept;
    integral operator++() noexcept;
    integral operator--() volatile noexcept;
    integral operator--() noexcept;
    integral operator+=(integral) volatile noexcept;
    integral operator+=(integral) noexcept;
    integral operator-=(integral) volatile noexcept;
    integral operator-=(integral) noexcept;
    integral operator&=(integral) volatile noexcept;
    integral operator&=(integral) noexcept;
    integral operator|=(integral) volatile noexcept;
    integral operator|=(integral) noexcept;
    integral operator^=(integral) volatile noexcept;
    integral operator^=(integral) noexcept;
  };

  template <class T> struct atomic<T*> {
    bool is_lock_free() const volatile noexcept;
    bool is_lock_free() const noexcept;
    void store(T*, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    void store(T*, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;
    T* load(memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) const volatile noexcept;
    T* load(memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) const noexcept;
    operator T*() const volatile noexcept;
    operator T*() const noexcept;
    T* exchange(T*, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    T* exchange(T*, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_weak(T*&, T*, memory_order, memory_order) volatile noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_weak(T*&, T*, memory_order, memory_order) noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_strong(T*&, T*, memory_order, memory_order) volatile noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_strong(T*&, T*, memory_order, memory_order) noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_weak(T*&, T*, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_weak(T*&, T*, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_strong(T*&, T*, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    bool compare_exchange_strong(T*&, T*, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;
    T* fetch_add(ptrdiff_t, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    T* fetch_add(ptrdiff_t, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;
    T* fetch_sub(ptrdiff_t, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    T* fetch_sub(ptrdiff_t, memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;

    atomic() noexcept = default;
    constexpr atomic(T*) noexcept;
    atomic(const atomic&) = delete;
    atomic& operator=(const atomic&) = delete;
    atomic& operator=(const atomic&) volatile = delete;
    T* operator=(T*) volatile noexcept;
    T* operator=(T*) noexcept;

    T* operator++(int) volatile noexcept;
    T* operator++(int) noexcept;
    T* operator--(int) volatile noexcept;
    T* operator--(int) noexcept;
    T* operator++() volatile noexcept;
    T* operator++() noexcept;
    T* operator--() volatile noexcept;
    T* operator--() noexcept;
    T* operator+=(ptrdiff_t) volatile noexcept;
    T* operator+=(ptrdiff_t) noexcept;
    T* operator-=(ptrdiff_t) volatile noexcept;
    T* operator-=(ptrdiff_t) noexcept;
  };
}

There is a generic class template atomic<T>. The type of the template argument T shall be trivially copyable ([basic.types]). [ Note: Type arguments that are not also statically initializable may be difficult to use.  — end note ]

The semantics of the operations on specializations of atomic are defined in [atomics.types.operations].

Specializations and instantiations of the atomic template shall have a deleted copy constructor, a deleted copy assignment operator, and a constexpr value constructor.

There shall be explicit specializations of the atomic template for the integral types char, signed char, unsigned char, short, unsigned short, int, unsigned int, long, unsigned long, long long, unsigned long long, char16_t, char32_t, wchar_t, and any other types needed by the typedefs in the header <cstdint>. For each integral type integral, the specialization atomic<integral> provides additional atomic operations appropriate to integral types. There shall be a specialization atomic<bool> which provides the general atomic operations as specified in [atomics.types.operations.general].

The atomic integral specializations and the specialization atomic<bool> shall have standard layout. They shall each have a trivial default constructor and a trivial destructor. They shall each support aggregate initialization syntax.

There shall be pointer partial specializations of the atomic class template. These specializations shall have standard layout, trivial default constructors, and trivial destructors. They shall each support aggregate initialization syntax.

There shall be named types corresponding to the integral specializations of atomic, as specified in Table [tab:atomics.integral], and a named type atomic_bool corresponding to the specified atomic<bool>. Each named type is either a typedef to the corresponding specialization or a base class of the corresponding specialization. If it is a base class, it shall support the same member functions as the corresponding specialization.

Table 146atomic integral typedefs
Named type Integral argument type
atomic_char char
atomic_schar signed char
atomic_uchar unsigned char
atomic_short short
atomic_ushort unsigned short
atomic_int int
atomic_uint unsigned int
atomic_long long
atomic_ulong unsigned long
atomic_llong long long
atomic_ullong unsigned long long
atomic_char16_t char16_t
atomic_char32_t char32_t
atomic_wchar_t wchar_t

There shall be atomic typedefs corresponding to the typedefs in the header <inttypes.h> as specified in Table [tab:atomics.typedefs].

Table 147atomic <inttypes.h> typedefs
Atomic typedef <inttypes.h> type
atomic_int_least8_t int_least8_t
atomic_uint_least8_t uint_least8_t
atomic_int_least16_t int_least16_t
atomic_uint_least16_t uint_least16_t
atomic_int_least32_t int_least32_t
atomic_uint_least32_t uint_least32_t
atomic_int_least64_t int_least64_t
atomic_uint_least64_t uint_least64_t
atomic_int_fast8_t int_fast8_t
atomic_uint_fast8_t uint_fast8_t
atomic_int_fast16_t int_fast16_t
atomic_uint_fast16_t uint_fast16_t
atomic_int_fast32_t int_fast32_t
atomic_uint_fast32_t uint_fast32_t
atomic_int_fast64_t int_fast64_t
atomic_uint_fast64_t uint_fast64_t
atomic_intptr_t intptr_t
atomic_uintptr_t uintptr_t
atomic_size_t size_t
atomic_ptrdiff_t ptrdiff_t
atomic_intmax_t intmax_t
atomic_uintmax_t uintmax_t

Note: The representation of an atomic specialization need not have the same size as its corresponding argument type. Specializations should have the same size whenever possible, as this reduces the effort required to port existing code.  — end note ]

29.6 Operations on atomic types [atomics.types.operations]

29.6.1 General operations on atomic types [atomics.types.operations.general]

The implementation shall provide the functions and function templates identified as “general operations on atomic types” in [atomics.syn].

In the declarations of these functions and function templates, the name atomic-type refers to either atomic<T> or to a named base class for T from Table [tab:atomics.integral] or inferred from Table [tab:atomics.typedefs].

29.6.2 Templated operations on atomic types [atomics.types.operations.templ]

The implementation shall declare but not define the function templates identified as “templated operations on atomic types” in [atomics.syn].

29.6.3 Arithmetic operations on atomic types [atomics.types.operations.arith]

The implementation shall provide the functions and function template specializations identified as “arithmetic operations on atomic types” in [atomics.syn].

In the declarations of these functions and function template specializations, the name integral refers to an integral type and the name atomic-integral refers to either atomic<integral> or to a named base class for integral from Table [tab:atomics.integral] or inferred from Table [tab:atomics.typedefs].

29.6.4 Operations on atomic pointer types [atomics.types.operations.pointer]

The implementation shall provide the function template specializations identified as “partial specializations for pointers” in [atomics.syn].

29.6.5 Requirements for operations on atomic types [atomics.types.operations.req]

There are only a few kinds of operations on atomic types, though there are many instances on those kinds. This section specifies each general kind. The specific instances are defined in [atomics.types.generic], [atomics.types.operations.general], [atomics.types.operations.arith], and [atomics.types.operations.pointer].

In the following operation definitions:

  • an A refers to one of the atomic types.

  • a C refers to its corresponding non-atomic type.

  • an M refers to type of the other argument for arithmetic operations. For integral atomic types, M is C. For atomic address types, M is std::ptrdiff_t.

  • the non-member functions not ending in _explicit have the semantics of their corresponding _explicit functions with memory_order arguments of memory_order_seq_cst.

Note: Many operations are volatile-qualified. The “volatile as device register” semantics have not changed in the standard. This qualification means that volatility is preserved when applying these operations to volatile objects. It does not mean that operations on non-volatile objects become volatile. Thus, volatile qualified operations on non-volatile objects may be merged under some conditions.  — end note ]

A::A() noexcept = default;

Effects: leaves the atomic object in an uninitialized state. [ Note: These semantics ensure compatibility with C.  — end note ]

constexpr A::A(C desired) noexcept;

Effects: Initializes the object with the value desired. Initialization is not an atomic operation ([intro.multithread]). [ Note: it is possible to have an access to an atomic object A race with its construction, for example by communicating the address of the just-constructed object A to another thread via memory_order_relaxed operations on a suitable atomic pointer variable, and then immediately accessing A in the receiving thread. This results in undefined behavior.  — end note ]

#define ATOMIC_VAR_INIT(value) see below

The macro expands to a token sequence suitable for constant initialization of an atomic variable of static storage duration of a type that is initialization-compatible with value. [ Note: This operation may need to initialize locks.  — end note ] Concurrent access to the variable being initialized, even via an atomic operation, constitutes a data race. [ Example:

atomic<int> v = ATOMIC_VAR_INIT(5);

 — end example ]

bool atomic_is_lock_free(const volatile A* object) noexcept; bool atomic_is_lock_free(const A* object) noexcept; bool A::is_lock_free() const volatile noexcept; bool A::is_lock_free() const noexcept;

Returns: True if the object's operations are lock-free, false otherwise.

void atomic_init(volatile A* object, C desired) noexcept; void atomic_init(A* object, C desired) noexcept;

Effects: Non-atomically initializes *object with value desired. This function shall only be applied to objects that have been default constructed, and then only once. [ Note: These semantics ensure compatibility with C.  — end note ] [ Note: Concurrent access from another thread, even via an atomic operation, constitutes a data race.  — end note ]

void atomic_store(volatile A* object, C desired) noexcept; void atomic_store(A* object, C desired) noexcept; void atomic_store_explicit(volatile A* object, C desired, memory_order order) noexcept; void atomic_store_explicit(A* object, C desired, memory_order order) noexcept; void A::store(C desired, memory_order order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept; void A::store(C desired, memory_order order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;

Requires: The order argument shall not be memory_order_consume, memory_order_acquire, nor memory_order_acq_rel.

Effects: Atomically replaces the value pointed to by object or by this with the value of desired. Memory is affected according to the value of order.

C A::operator=(C desired) volatile noexcept; C A::operator=(C desired) noexcept;

Effects: store(desired)

Returns: desired

C atomic_load(const volatile A* object) noexcept; C atomic_load(const A* object) noexcept; C atomic_load_explicit(const volatile A* object, memory_order) noexcept; C atomic_load_explicit(const A* object, memory_order) noexcept; C A::load(memory_order order = memory_order_seq_cst) const volatile noexcept; C A::load(memory_order order = memory_order_seq_cst) const noexcept;

Requires: The order argument shall not be memory_order_release nor memory_order_acq_rel.

Effects: Memory is affected according to the value of order.

Returns: Atomically returns the value pointed to by object or by this.

A::operator C() const volatile noexcept; A::operator C() const noexcept;

Effects: load()

Returns: The result of load().

C atomic_exchange(volatile A* object, C desired) noexcept; C atomic_exchange(A* object, C desired) noexcept; C atomic_exchange_explicit(volatile A* object, C desired, memory_order) noexcept; C atomic_exchange_explicit(A* object, C desired, memory_order) noexcept; C A::exchange(C desired, memory_order order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept; C A::exchange(C desired, memory_order order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;

Effects: Atomically replaces the value pointed to by object or by this with desired. Memory is affected according to the value of order. These operations are atomic read-modify-write operations ([intro.multithread]).

Returns: Atomically returns the value pointed to by object or by this immediately before the effects.

bool atomic_compare_exchange_weak(volatile A* object, C* expected, C desired) noexcept; bool atomic_compare_exchange_weak(A* object, C* expected, C desired) noexcept; bool atomic_compare_exchange_strong(volatile A* object, C* expected, C desired) noexcept; bool atomic_compare_exchange_strong(A* object, C* expected, C desired) noexcept; bool atomic_compare_exchange_weak_explicit(volatile A* object, C* expected, C desired, memory_order success, memory_order failure) noexcept; bool atomic_compare_exchange_weak_explicit(A* object, C* expected, C desired, memory_order success, memory_order failure) noexcept; bool atomic_compare_exchange_strong_explicit(volatile A* object, C* expected, C desired, memory_order success, memory_order failure) noexcept; bool atomic_compare_exchange_strong_explicit(A* object, C* expected, C desired, memory_order success, memory_order failure) noexcept; bool A::compare_exchange_weak(C& expected, C desired, memory_order success, memory_order failure) volatile noexcept; bool A::compare_exchange_weak(C& expected, C desired, memory_order success, memory_order failure) noexcept; bool A::compare_exchange_strong(C& expected, C desired, memory_order success, memory_order failure) volatile noexcept; bool A::compare_exchange_strong(C& expected, C desired, memory_order success, memory_order failure) noexcept; bool A::compare_exchange_weak(C& expected, C desired, memory_order order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept; bool A::compare_exchange_weak(C& expected, C desired, memory_order order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept; bool A::compare_exchange_strong(C& expected, C desired, memory_order order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept; bool A::compare_exchange_strong(C& expected, C desired, memory_order order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;

Requires: The failure argument shall not be memory_order_release nor memory_order_acq_rel. The failure argument shall be no stronger than the success argument.

Effects: Atomically, compares the contents of the memory pointed to by object or by this for equality with that in expected, and if true, replaces the contents of the memory pointed to by object or by this with that in desired, and if false, updates the contents of the memory in expected with the contents of the memory pointed to by object or by this. Further, if the comparison is true, memory is affected according to the value of success, and if the comparison is false, memory is affected according to the value of failure. When only one memory_order argument is supplied, the value of success is order, and the value of failure is order except that a value of memory_order_acq_rel shall be replaced by the value memory_order_acquire and a value of memory_order_release shall be replaced by the value memory_order_relaxed. If the operation returns true, these operations are atomic read-modify-write operations ([intro.multithread]). Otherwise, these operations are atomic load operations.

Returns: The result of the comparison.

Note: For example, the effect of atomic_compare_exchange_strong is

if (memcmp(object, expected, sizeof(*object)) == 0)
  memcpy(object, &desired, sizeof(*object));
else
  memcpy(expected, object, sizeof(*object));

 — end note ] [ Example: the expected use of the compare-and-exchange operations is as follows. The compare-and-exchange operations will update expected when another iteration of the loop is needed.

expected = current.load();
do {
  desired = function(expected);
} while (!current.compare_exchange_weak(expected, desired));

 — end example ]

Implementations should ensure that weak compare-and-exchange operations do not consistently return false unless either the atomic object has value different from expected or there are concurrent modifications to the atomic object.

Remark: A weak compare-and-exchange operation may fail spuriously. That is, even when the contents of memory referred to by expected and object are equal, it may return false and store back to expected the same memory contents that were originally there. [ Note: This spurious failure enables implementation of compare-and-exchange on a broader class of machines, e.g., load-locked store-conditional machines. A consequence of spurious failure is that nearly all uses of weak compare-and-exchange will be in a loop.

When a compare-and-exchange is in a loop, the weak version will yield better performance on some platforms. When a weak compare-and-exchange would require a loop and a strong one would not, the strong one is preferable.  — end note ]

Note: The memcpy and memcmp semantics of the compare-and-exchange operations may result in failed comparisons for values that compare equal with operator== if the underlying type has padding bits, trap bits, or alternate representations of the same value. Thus, compare_exchange_strong should be used with extreme care. On the other hand, compare_exchange_weak should converge rapidly.  — end note ]

The following operations perform arithmetic computations. The key, operator, and computation correspondence is:

Table 148 — Atomic arithmetic computations
Key Op Computation Key Op Computation
add + addition sub - subtraction
or | bitwise inclusive or xor ^ bitwise exclusive or
and & bitwise and

C atomic_fetch_key(volatile A* object, M operand) noexcept; C atomic_fetch_key(A* object, M operand) noexcept; C atomic_fetch_key_explicit(volatile A* object, M operand, memory_order order) noexcept; C atomic_fetch_key_explicit(A* object, M operand, memory_order order) noexcept; C A::fetch_key(M operand, memory_order order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept; C A::fetch_key(M operand, memory_order order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;

Effects: Atomically replaces the value pointed to by object or by this with the result of the computation applied to the value pointed to by object or by this and the given operand. Memory is affected according to the value of order. These operations are atomic read-modify-write operations ([intro.multithread]).

Returns: Atomically, the value pointed to by object or by this immediately before the effects.

Remark: For signed integer types, arithmetic is defined to use two's complement representation. There are no undefined results. For address types, the result may be an undefined address, but the operations otherwise have no undefined behavior.

C A::operator op=(M operand) volatile noexcept; C A::operator op=(M operand) noexcept;

Effects: fetch_key(operand)

Returns: fetch_key(operand) op operand

C A::operator++(int) volatile noexcept; C A::operator++(int) noexcept;

Returns: fetch_add(1)

C A::operator--(int) volatile noexcept; C A::operator--(int) noexcept;

Returns: fetch_sub(1)

C A::operator++() volatile noexcept; C A::operator++() noexcept;

Effects: fetch_add(1)

Returns: fetch_add(1) + 1

C A::operator--() volatile noexcept; C A::operator--() noexcept;

Effects: fetch_sub(1)

Returns: fetch_sub(1) - 1

29.7 Flag type and operations [atomics.flag]

namespace std {
  typedef struct atomic_flag {
    bool test_and_set(memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    bool test_and_set(memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;
    void clear(memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept;
    void clear(memory_order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;

    atomic_flag() noexcept = default;
    atomic_flag(const atomic_flag&) = delete;
    atomic_flag& operator=(const atomic_flag&) = delete;
    atomic_flag& operator=(const atomic_flag&) volatile = delete;
  } atomic_flag;

  bool atomic_flag_test_and_set(volatile atomic_flag*) noexcept;
  bool atomic_flag_test_and_set(atomic_flag*) noexcept;
  bool atomic_flag_test_and_set_explicit(volatile atomic_flag*, memory_order) noexcept;
  bool atomic_flag_test_and_set_explicit(atomic_flag*, memory_order) noexcept;
  void atomic_flag_clear(volatile atomic_flag*) noexcept;
  void atomic_flag_clear(atomic_flag*) noexcept;
  void atomic_flag_clear_explicit(volatile atomic_flag*, memory_order) noexcept;
  void atomic_flag_clear_explicit(atomic_flag*, memory_order) noexcept;

  #define ATOMIC_FLAG_INIT see below
}

The atomic_flag type provides the classic test-and-set functionality. It has two states, set and clear.

Operations on an object of type atomic_flag shall be lock-free. [ Note: Hence the operations should also be address-free. No other type requires lock-free operations, so the atomic_flag type is the minimum hardware-implemented type needed to conform to this International standard. The remaining types can be emulated with atomic_flag, though with less than ideal properties.  — end note ]

The atomic_flag type shall have standard layout. It shall have a trivial default constructor, a deleted copy constructor, a deleted copy assignment operator, and a trivial destructor.

The macro ATOMIC_FLAG_INIT shall be defined in such a way that it can be used to initialize an object of type atomic_flag to the clear state. The macro can be used in the form:

atomic_flag guard = ATOMIC_FLAG_INIT;

It is unspecified whether the macro can be used in other initialization contexts. For a complete static-duration object, that initialization shall be static. Unless initialized with ATOMIC_FLAG_INIT, it is unspecified whether an atomic_flag object has an initial state of set or clear.

bool atomic_flag_test_and_set(volatile atomic_flag* object) noexcept; bool atomic_flag_test_and_set(atomic_flag* object) noexcept; bool atomic_flag_test_and_set_explicit(volatile atomic_flag* object, memory_order order) noexcept; bool atomic_flag_test_and_set_explicit(atomic_flag* object, memory_order order) noexcept; bool atomic_flag::test_and_set(memory_order order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept; bool atomic_flag::test_and_set(memory_order order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;

Effects: Atomically sets the value pointed to by object or by this to true. Memory is affected according to the value of order. These operations are atomic read-modify-write operations ([intro.multithread]).

Returns: Atomically, the value of the object immediately before the effects.

void atomic_flag_clear(volatile atomic_flag* object) noexcept; void atomic_flag_clear(atomic_flag* object) noexcept; void atomic_flag_clear_explicit(volatile atomic_flag* object, memory_order order) noexcept; void atomic_flag_clear_explicit(atomic_flag* object, memory_order order) noexcept; void atomic_flag::clear(memory_order order = memory_order_seq_cst) volatile noexcept; void atomic_flag::clear(memory_order order = memory_order_seq_cst) noexcept;

Requires: The order argument shall not be memory_order_consume, memory_order_acquire, nor memory_order_acq_rel.

Effects: Atomically sets the value pointed to by object or by this to false. Memory is affected according to the value of order.

29.8 Fences [atomics.fences]

This section introduces synchronization primitives called fences. Fences can have acquire semantics, release semantics, or both. A fence with acquire semantics is called an acquire fence. A fence with release semantics is called a release fence.

A release fence A synchronizes with an acquire fence B if there exist atomic operations X and Y, both operating on some atomic object M, such that A is sequenced before X, X modifies M, Y is sequenced before B, and Y reads the value written by X or a value written by any side effect in the hypothetical release sequence X would head if it were a release operation.

A release fence A synchronizes with an atomic operation B that performs an acquire operation on an atomic object M if there exists an atomic operation X such that A is sequenced before X, X modifies M, and B reads the value written by X or a value written by any side effect in the hypothetical release sequence X would head if it were a release operation.

An atomic operation A that is a release operation on an atomic object M synchronizes with an acquire fence B if there exists some atomic operation X on M such that X is sequenced before B and reads the value written by A or a value written by any side effect in the release sequence headed by A.

extern "C" void atomic_thread_fence(memory_order order) noexcept;

Effects: depending on the value of order, this operation:

  • has no effects, if order == memory_order_relaxed;

  • is an acquire fence, if order == memory_order_acquire || order == memory_order_consume;

  • is a release fence, if order == memory_order_release;

  • is both an acquire fence and a release fence, if order == memory_order_acq_rel;

  • is a sequentially consistent acquire and release fence, if order == memory_order_seq_cst.

extern "C" void atomic_signal_fence(memory_order order) noexcept;

Effects: Equivalent to atomic_thread_fence(order), except that the resulting ordering constraints are established only between a thread and a signal handler executed in the same thread.

Note: atomic_signal_fence can be used to specify the order in which actions performed by the thread become visible to the signal handler.

Note: compiler optimizations and reorderings of loads and stores are inhibited in the same way as with atomic_thread_fence, but the hardware fence instructions that atomic_thread_fence would have inserted are not emitted.