How do I use locks in multithreading?

How do I use locks in multithreading?

Locks are used in multithreading to prevent race conditions. You can use mutexes or other locking mechanisms.

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

Sure! You can use the threading module. Here's a simple example:

import threading

lock = threading.Lock()

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

This ensures that only one thread can execute the critical section at a time.

What happens if I forget to release a lock?

If you forget to release a lock, it can lead to a deadlock situation where other threads are blocked indefinitely, causing your program to hang.

Are there alternatives to locks for synchronization?

Yes, alternatives include semaphores, condition variables, and using higher-level abstractions like queues.