# std::unique_lock<Mutex>::try_lock

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< cpp‎ | thread‎ | unique lock

bool try_lock(); |  | (since C++11)

Tries to lock (i.e., takes ownership of) the associated mutex without blocking. Effectively calls mutex()->try_lock().

std::system_error is thrown if there is no associated mutex or if the mutex is already locked by this std::unique_lock.

### Parameters

(none)

### Return value

true if the ownership of the mutex has been acquired successfully, false otherwise.

### Exceptions

- Any exceptions thrown by mutex()->try_lock() (Mutex types do not throw in `try_lock`, but a custom Lockable might)

- If there is no associated mutex, std::system_error with an error code of std::errc::operation_not_permitted

- If the mutex is already locked by this `std::unique_lock`, std::system_error with an error code of std::errc::resource_deadlock_would_occur

### Example

The following examples try to acquire a mutex that was locked and unlocked.

Run this code

    #include <chrono>
    #include <iostream>
    #include <mutex>
    #include <thread>
    #include <vector>

    using namespace std::chrono_literals;

    int main()
    {
        std::mutex counter_mutex;
        std::vector<std::thread> threads;
        using Id = int;

        auto worker_task = [&](Id id, std::chrono::seconds wait, std::chrono::seconds acquire)
        {
            // wait for a few seconds before acquiring lock.
            std::this_thread::sleep_for(wait);

            std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(counter_mutex, std::defer_lock);
            if (lock.try_lock()) {
                std::cout << '#' << id << ", lock acquired.\n";
            } else {
                std::cout << '#' << id << ", failed acquiring lock.\n";
                return;
            }

            // keep the lock for a while.
            std::this_thread::sleep_for(acquire);

            std::cout << '#' << id << ", releasing lock (via destructor).\n";
        };

        threads.emplace_back(worker_task, Id{0}, 0s, 2s);
        threads.emplace_back(worker_task, Id{1}, 1s, 0s);
        threads.emplace_back(worker_task, Id{2}, 3s, 0s);

        for (auto &thread : threads) thread.join();
    }

Output:

    #0, lock acquired.
    #1, failed acquiring lock.
    #0, releasing lock (via destructor).
    #2, lock acquired.
    #2, releasing lock (via destructor).

### See also

lock | locks (i.e., takes ownership of) the associated mutex (public member function)
try_lock_for | attempts to lock (i.e., takes ownership of) the associated TimedLockable mutex, returns if the mutex has been unavailable for the specified time duration (public member function)
try_lock_until | tries to lock (i.e., takes ownership of) the associated TimedLockable mutex, returns if the mutex has been unavailable until specified time point has been reached (public member function)
unlock | unlocks (i.e., releases ownership of) the associated mutex (public member function)

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