How do I use RLock in Python?

How do I use RLock in Python?

You can use RLock (reentrant lock) in Python to allow a thread to acquire the lock multiple times without blocking itself. Here's a simple example.

Can you show me a code example?

Sure! Here's a basic example:

import threading

lock = threading.RLock()

def thread_function():
    lock.acquire()
    try:
        print("Lock acquired")
        # Do some work
        lock.acquire()  # Reacquire the lock
        try:
            print("Lock reacquired")
        finally:
            lock.release()  # Release the lock
    finally:
        lock.release()  # Release the lock

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

What happens if I try to acquire the lock more than once?

If you try to acquire the RLock more than once from the same thread, it will not block. Instead, it will allow the thread to proceed, and you must release it the same number of times you acquired it.

Are there any performance considerations I should be aware of?

Yes, while RLocks are useful for avoiding deadlocks, they can introduce some overhead compared to regular locks. Use them judiciously.