Platform SDK: DLLs, Processes, and Threads

Synchronization Functions #

The following functions are used in synchronization.

Asynchronous function	Description
APCProc	An application-defined callback function used with the QueueUserAPC function.
GetOverlappedResult	Retrieves the results of an overlapped operation.
QueueUserAPC	Adds a user-mode asynchronous procedure call (APC) object to the APC queue of the specified thread.

Critical-section function	Description
DeleteCriticalSection	Releases all resources used by an unowned critical section object.
EnterCriticalSection	Waits for ownership of the specified critical section object.
InitializeCriticalSection	Initializes a critical section object.
InitializeCriticalSectionAndSpinCount	Initializes a critical section object and sets the spin count for the critical section.
LeaveCriticalSection	Releases ownership of the specified critical section object.
SetCriticalSectionSpinCount	Sets the spin count for the specified critical section.
TryEnterCriticalSection	Attempts to enter a critical section without blocking.

Event function	Description
CreateEvent	Creates or opens a named or unnamed event object.
OpenEvent	Opens an existing named event object.
PulseEvent	Sets the specified event object to the signaled state and then resets it to the nonsignaled state after releasing the appropriate number of waiting threads.
ResetEvent	Sets the specified event object to the nonsignaled state.
SetEvent	Sets the specified event object to the signaled state.

Interlocked function	Description
InterlockedCompareExchange	Performs an atomic comparison of the specified values and exchanges the values, based on the outcome of the comparison.
InterlockedCompareExchangeAcquire	Functions identically to InterlockedCompareExchange except that acquire memory access semantics are used in the exchange operation.
InterlockedCompareExchangeAcquire64	Functions identically to InterlockedCompareExchangeAcquire except that operations are performed on 64-bit values and addresses.
InterlockedCompareExchangePointer	Performs an atomic comparison of the specified values and exchange of the values, based on the outcome of the comparison.
InterlockedCompareExchangeRelease	Functions identically to InterlockedCompareExchange except that release memory access semantics are used in the exchange operation.
InterlockedCompareExchangeRelease64	Functions identically to InterlockedCompareExchangeRelease except that operations are performed on 64-bit values and addresses.
InterlockedDecrement	Decrements (decreases by one) the value of the specified variable and checks the resulting value.
InterlockedDecrement64	Functions identically to InterlockedDecrement except that operations are performed on 64-bit values and addresses.
InterlockedDecrementAcquire	Functions identically to InterlockedDecrement except that acquire memory access semantics are used in the exchange operation.
InterlockedDecrementRelease	Functions identically to InterlockedDecrement except that release memory access semantics are used in the exchange operation.
InterlockedExchange	Atomically exchanges a pair of values.
InterlockedExchangeAcquire64	Functions identically to InterlockedExchange except that acquire memory access semantics are used in the exchange operation and it processes 64-bit values and addresses.
InterlockedExchangeAdd	Performs an atomic addition of an increment value to an addend variable.
InterlockedExchangePointer	Atomically exchanges a pair of values.
InterlockedFlushSList	Removes all items from a singly linked list.
InterlockedIncrement	Increments (increases by one) the value of the specified variable and checks the resulting value.
InterlockedIncrement64	Functions identically to InterlockedIncrement except that operations are performed on 64-bit values and addresses.
InterlockedIncrementAcquire	Functions identically to InterlockedIncrement except that acquire memory access semantics are used in the exchange operation.
InterlockedIncrementRelease	Functions identically to InterlockedIncrement except that release memory access semantics are used in the exchange operation.
InterlockedPopEntrySList	Removes an item from the front of a singly linked list.
InterlockedPushEntrySList	Inserts an item at the front of a singly linked list.

Mutex function	Description
CreateMutex	Creates or opens a named or unnamed mutex object.
OpenMutex	Opens an existing named mutex object.
ReleaseMutex	Releases ownership of the specified mutex object.

Semaphore function	Description
CreateSemaphore	Creates or opens a named or unnamed semaphore object.
OpenSemaphore	Opens an existing named semaphore object.
ReleaseSemaphore	Increases the count of the specified semaphore object by a specified amount.

Singly-linked list function	Description
InitializeSListHead	Initializes the head of a singly linked list.
InterlockedFlushSList	Flushes the entire list of items in a singly linked list.
InterlockedPopEntrySList	Removes an item from the front of a singly linked list.
InterlockedPushEntrySList	Inserts an item at the front of a singly linked list.

Timer-queue timer function	Description
ChangeTimerQueueTimer	Updates a timer-queue timer.
CreateTimerQueue	Creates a queue for timers.
CreateTimerQueueTimer	Creates a timer-queue timer.
DeleteTimerQueue	Deletes a timer queue.
DeleteTimerQueueEx	Deletes a timer queue.
DeleteTimerQueueTimer	Cancels a timer-queue timer.

Wait function	Description
MsgWaitForMultipleObjects	Returns when the specified criteria for the specified objects is met.
MsgWaitForMultipleObjectsEx	Returns when the specified criteria for the specified objects is met.
RegisterWaitForSingleObject	Directs a wait thread in the thread pool to wait on the object.
SignalObjectAndWait	Allows the caller to atomically signal an object and wait on another object.
UnregisterWait	Cancels a registered wait operation.
UnregisterWaitEx	Cancels a registered wait operation.
WaitForMultipleObjects	Returns when the specified criteria for the specified objects is met.
WaitForMultipleObjectsEx	Returns when the specified criteria for the specified objects is met.
WaitForSingleObject	Returns when the specified criteria for the specified object is met.
WaitForSingleObjectEx	Returns when the specified criteria for the specified object is met.
WaitOrTimerCallback	Returns when the specified criteria is met.

Waitable-timer function	Description
CancelWaitableTimer	Sets the specified waitable timer to the inactive state.
CreateWaitableTimer	Creates or opens a waitable timer object.
OpenWaitableTimer	Opens an existing named waitable timer object.
SetWaitableTimer	Activates the specified waitable timer.
TimerAPCProc	Application-defined timer completion routine used with the SetWaitableTimer function.