What is the difference between exclusive lock and shared lock?

What is the difference between exclusive lock and shared lock?

An exclusive lock prevents other transactions from accessing the locked resource, while a shared lock allows multiple transactions to read the resource but not modify it.

Can you give me an example of when to use each type of lock?

Sure! Use an exclusive lock when you need to update a record, ensuring no other transactions can access it. Use a shared lock when multiple transactions need to read data simultaneously without modifying it.

What happens if a transaction tries to acquire a lock that is already held?

If a transaction tries to acquire a lock that is already held, it will be blocked until the lock is released, preventing potential data inconsistencies.

Are there any performance implications of using these locks?

Yes, using locks can lead to contention and reduced performance, especially if many transactions are waiting for locks to be released.