Windows threads (c run-time, pthreads, std::thread)

Question

Maybe it is incorrect question, but I am trying to link in one picture terms:

• Windows multithreaded C run-time (for example _beginthreadex);
• pthreads;
• std::thread;

Please give me explanation on:

1. These libraries are separate on Windows or they layered under each other?
2. Does pthread use multithreaded C run-time on Windows?
3. Does std::thread use multithreaded C run-time on Windows? Is std::thread realization on Windows wraps WinThreads?

Answer 1

As a brief answer, std::thread is a higher level abstraction of threading API of the OS. It uses threading WinAPI on Windows, pthreads on Linux.