What is concurrency control and why is it important?

What is concurrency control and why is it important?

Concurrency control is a database management technique that ensures multiple transactions can occur simultaneously without conflicting. It's crucial for maintaining data integrity and consistency.

Can you give me an example of a concurrency issue?

Sure! Imagine two users trying to update the same bank account balance at the same time. Without proper concurrency control, one update might overwrite the other, leading to incorrect balances.

What are the common methods used for concurrency control?

Common methods include locking, timestamp ordering, and optimistic concurrency control. Each has its pros and cons depending on the use case.

How does locking work in concurrency control?

Locking prevents other transactions from accessing data that is being modified. There are different types of locks, like exclusive and shared locks, to manage access.

What happens if a transaction fails during concurrency control?

If a transaction fails, the system typically rolls back any changes made during that transaction to maintain data integrity.