What is the difference between a data race and a deadlock?

What is the difference between a data race and a deadlock?

A data race occurs when two or more threads access shared data simultaneously, and at least one thread modifies it. A deadlock, on the other hand, happens when two or more threads are blocked forever, each waiting on the other to release a resource.

Can you give me an example of a data race?

Sure! Imagine two threads incrementing the same counter variable without proper synchronization. If both read the value at the same time, they might overwrite each other's updates.

What about a deadlock? How does that happen?

A deadlock can occur when Thread A holds Resource 1 and waits for Resource 2, while Thread B holds Resource 2 and waits for Resource 1. Neither can proceed, resulting in a deadlock.

How can I prevent data races in my code?

You can prevent data races by using synchronization mechanisms like mutexes, locks, or atomic operations to ensure that only one thread accesses the shared data at a time.