Daily bit(e) of C++ | std::thread
Daily bit(e) of C++ #475, The handle that represents a thread of execution, enabling concurrency: std::thread.
The std::thread is the C++ handle for a thread of execution. Multiple threads can be potentially executed concurrently.
A std::thread with an associated state must be joined, detached, or moved-from before it can be destroyed.
Joining a thread will block the caller until the thread finishes running. Detaching a thread will dissociate the thread from the std::thread handle, allowing it to run independently.
If a detached thread outlives main, the result is undefined. Typical implementations will terminate all remaining threads as part of exit() after returning from the main function.
If you are using C++20, prefer std::jthread, which offers better ergonomy and additional features.
