What are the best practices for optimistic locking in databases?

What are the best practices for optimistic locking in databases?

Optimistic locking is a concurrency control method that assumes multiple transactions can complete without affecting each other. Best practices include using version numbers, timestamps, and handling conflicts gracefully.

Can you explain how version numbers work in optimistic locking?

Sure! In optimistic locking, each record has a version number. When a transaction reads a record, it also reads the version number. Before updating, it checks if the version number has changed. If it has, the transaction fails, preventing overwrites.

What should I do if a conflict occurs?

If a conflict occurs, you can either retry the transaction, prompt the user to resolve the conflict, or implement a merge strategy to combine changes.

Are there any specific databases that support optimistic locking?

Yes, many databases support optimistic locking, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Microsoft SQL Server. Each has its own implementation details.