Beginthread

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the C programming language, the beginthread function is declared in process.h header file.

This function creates a new thread of execution within the current process.

Contents

[edit] Prototype

unsigned long _beginthread(void(* Func)(void*), unsigned Stack_size, void *Arg);

[edit] Func

Thread execution starts at the beginning of the function func. To terminate the thread correctly, func must call _endthread, freeing memory allocated by the run time library to support the thread.

[edit] Stack_size

The operating system allocates a stack for the thread containing the number of bytes specified by stack_size. If the value of stack_size is zero, the operating system creates a stack the same size as that of the main thread.[1]

[edit] Arg

The operating system passes Arg to Func when execution begins. Arg can be any 32-bit value cast to void*.

[edit] Return value

Returns the operating system handle of the newly created thread. If unsuccessful, the function returns -1 and sets errno.

[edit] Compiler switches

To compile a program using multiple threads with the Microsoft C/C++ Compiler, you must specify the /MT switch (or /MTd, for debug programs).

[edit] References

  1. ^ MSDN _beginthread