How does optimistic concurrency work?

Can you explain how optimistic concurrency works in databases?

Sure! Optimistic concurrency control is a strategy used to manage concurrent access to a database. It assumes that multiple transactions can complete without affecting each other.

What happens if two transactions try to update the same record?

In that case, the system checks for conflicts before committing the changes. If a conflict is detected, one transaction will be rolled back, and the user will need to retry.

How does it differ from pessimistic concurrency?

Unlike optimistic concurrency, which allows transactions to proceed without locking resources, pessimistic concurrency locks the resources for the duration of the transaction to prevent conflicts.

What are the advantages of using optimistic concurrency?

The main advantages include improved performance in low-contention scenarios and reduced locking overhead, which can lead to better scalability.