Can you explain GIL in Python?

Can you explain GIL in Python?

Sure! GIL stands for Global Interpreter Lock. It's a mutex that protects access to Python objects, preventing multiple threads from executing Python bytecodes at once.

Why does Python have GIL?

Python has GIL to simplify memory management and ensure thread safety. It allows only one thread to execute at a time, which can be beneficial for CPU-bound programs.

Does GIL affect performance?

Yes, GIL can limit the performance of CPU-bound multi-threaded programs, as it prevents true parallel execution. However, I/O-bound programs can still benefit from multi-threading.

How can I work around GIL in Python?

You can use multiprocessing instead of threading, as each process has its own Python interpreter and memory space, bypassing GIL.