How can I handle conflicts in optimistic locking?

How can I handle conflicts in optimistic locking?

Optimistic locking is a strategy to prevent conflicts when multiple transactions are trying to update the same data. You can handle conflicts by implementing a versioning system where each record has a version number. When a transaction attempts to update a record, it checks the version number. If the version number has changed since it was read, the transaction is aborted, and you can prompt the user to retry.

What happens if a conflict occurs?

If a conflict occurs, the transaction that detects the version mismatch will fail. You can catch this exception and inform the user that the data has been modified by another transaction. It's a good practice to provide options to either retry the operation or view the latest data.

Can you give me an example of how to implement this?

Sure! In a typical implementation, you would have a database table with a version column. When updating a record, you would use a SQL statement like: UPDATE table_name SET column1 = value1, version = version + 1 WHERE id = record_id AND version = current_version. If no rows are affected, it means a conflict occurred.

Are there any drawbacks to optimistic locking?

Yes, optimistic locking can lead to increased retries and user frustration if conflicts are frequent. It's best suited for scenarios where conflicts are rare. In high-contention environments, you might want to consider pessimistic locking instead.