Read-write locks are a possible optimization here, because they allow multiple threads to read simultaneously from a single data source. If one has an application in which multiple worker threads read the same information repeatedly, it would be more efficient to use read-write locks than basic mutexes, because the attempts to read the data will not block the other threads.

A read-write lock can thus be used as a more advanced version of a mutex, namely, as one which adapts its behavior to the type of access. Internally, it builds on mutexes (or semaphores) and condition variables.