当两个或更多线程需要同时访问一个共享资源时，系统需要使用同步机制来确保一次只有一个线程使用该资源。Mutex 是同步基元，它只向一个线程授予对共享资源的独占访问权。如果一个线程获取了互斥体，则要获取该互斥体的第二个线程将被挂起，直到第一个线程释放该互斥体。
可以使用 WaitHandle.WaitOne 方法请求互斥体的所属权。拥有互斥体的线程可以在对 WaitOne 的重复调用中请求相同的互斥体而不会阻止其执行。但线程必须调用 ReleaseMutex 方法同样多的次数以释放互斥体的所属权。Mutex 类强制线程标识，因此互斥体只能由获得它的线程释放。相反，Semaphore 类不强制线程标识。
如果线程在拥有互斥体时终止，则称此互斥体被放弃。此互斥体被设置为终止状态，下一个等待的线程获得所属权。如果没有线程拥有互斥体，则互斥体状态为终止。从 .NET Framework 2.0 版开始，需要该互斥体的下一个线程将引发 AbandonedMutexException。在 .NET Framework 2.0 版之前，这样不会引发任何异常。
实例如下：
// This example shows how a Mutex is used to synchronize access
// to a protected resource. Unlike Monitor, Mutex can be used with
// WaitHandle.WaitAll and WaitAny, and can be passed across
// AppDomain boundaries.
using System;
using System.Threading;
class Test
{
// Create a new Mutex. The creating thread does not own the
// Mutex.
private static Mutex mut = new Mutex();
private const int numIterations = 1;
private const int numThreads = 3;
static void Main()
{
// Create the threads that will use the protected resource.
for(int i = 0; i < numThreads; i++)
{
Thread myThread = new Thread(new ThreadStart(MyThreadProc));
myThread.Name = String.Format("Thread{0}", i + 1);
myThread.Start();
}
// The main thread exits, but the application continues to
// run until all foreground threads have exited.
}
private static void MyThreadProc()
{
for(int i = 0; i < numIterations; i++)
{
UseResource();
}
}
// This method represents a resource that must be synchronized
// so that only one thread at a time can enter.
private static void UseResource()
{
// Wait until it is safe to enter.
mut.WaitOne();
Console.WriteLine("{0} has entered the protected area",
Thread.CurrentThread.Name);
// Place code to access non-reentrant resources here.
// Simulate some work.
Thread.Sleep(500);
Console.WriteLine("{0} is leaving the protected area\r\n",
Thread.CurrentThread.Name);
// Release the Mutex.
mut.ReleaseMutex();
}
}