How do I use locks in multi-threading?

How do I use locks in multi-threading?

Using locks in multi-threading helps prevent race conditions. You can use mutexes or other locking mechanisms.

Can you show me an example of using a mutex in Python?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

import threading

lock = threading.Lock()

def thread_function():
    with lock:
        # critical section
        print('Thread is running')

thread = threading.Thread(target=thread_function)
thread.start()
thread.join()

What happens if I forget to release a lock?

If you forget to release a lock, it can lead to deadlocks, where threads are waiting indefinitely for a lock to be released.

Are there alternatives to using locks?

Yes, alternatives include using concurrent data structures, atomic operations, or higher-level abstractions like queues.