Example for boost shared_mutex (multiple reads/one write)

boost::shared_mutex _access;
void reader()
{
  // get shared access
  boost::shared_lock lock(_access);

  // now we have shared access
}

void writer()
{
  // get upgradable access
  boost::upgrade_lock lock(_access);

  // get exclusive access
  boost::upgrade_to_unique_lock uniqueLock(lock);
  // now we have exclusive access
}

boost::shared_mutex _access;
void reader()
{
  boost::shared_lock< boost::shared_mutex > lock(_access);
  // do work here, without anyone having exclusive access
}

void conditional_writer()
{
  boost::upgrade_lock< boost::shared_mutex > lock(_access);
  // do work here, without anyone having exclusive access

  if (something) {
    boost::upgrade_to_unique_lock< boost::shared_mutex > uniqueLock(lock);
    // do work here, but now you have exclusive access
  }

  // do more work here, without anyone having exclusive access
}

void unconditional_writer()
{
  boost::unique_lock< boost::shared_mutex > lock(lock);
  // do work here, with exclusive access
}

#include <boost/thread/locks.hpp>

typedef boost::shared_mutex Lock;
typedef boost::unique_lock< boost::shared_mutex > WrtieLock;
typedef boost::shared_lock< boost::shared_mutex >  ReadLock;

Lock myLock;


void ReadFunction()
{
    ReadLock r_lock(myLock);
    //Do reader stuff
}

void WriteFunction()
{
     WriteLock w_lock(myLock);
     //Do writer stuff
}