How do I implement optimistic locking in my application?

How do I implement optimistic locking in my application?

Optimistic locking is a concurrency control method that assumes multiple transactions can complete without affecting each other. To implement it, you typically add a version number or timestamp to your data records.

Can you give me an example of how to do that in a database?

Sure! In a SQL database, you can add a 'version' column to your table. When updating a record, check the version number. If it matches the current version in the database, proceed with the update and increment the version. If not, it means another transaction has modified the record.

What happens if two users try to update the same record at the same time?

If two users attempt to update the same record simultaneously, the first update will succeed, and the second will fail due to a version mismatch. The second user will need to reload the record and try again.

Are there any downsides to using optimistic locking?

Yes, optimistic locking can lead to increased retries and potential user frustration if conflicts are frequent. It's best used in scenarios where conflicts are rare.