Semaforu

Semaforu is a term used in several languages to refer to semaphore-related concepts and devices. In everyday usage, it often denotes a signaling device that controls movement at intersections, commonly known as a traffic signal or traffic light, which uses red, yellow, and green lights to regulate vehicle and pedestrian flow.

In computing and computer science, a semaphore is a synchronization primitive that coordinates access to shared resources in concurrent programs. Semaphores can be counting or binary, allowing threads or processes to signal availability or restrict concurrent access. They are implemented in many operating systems and programming languages to prevent race conditions and to manage sequencing.

Historically, semaphore signaling also describes methods of visual signaling using flags or mechanical devices. Flag semaphore employs two handheld flags to convey information across distance and was widely used in maritime, military, and railway contexts before the prevalence of electronic communication.

Etymology traces the term to Greek roots meaning “sign-bearing.” The exact spelling and usage of semaforu vary by language, with definite forms differing regionally. In some languages, the word appears as a variant or possessive form of semafor, reflecting grammatical changes rather than a distinct concept.

Today, semaforu and its variants may refer to traffic control signals, software synchronization primitives, or historical signaling methods depending on context. Understanding the intended meaning relies on surrounding information about traffic systems, programming concepts, or signaling practices.

See also: semaphore (signaling), traffic light, flag semaphore, mutual exclusion, synchronization.