What is a ReentrantLock in Java?

What is a ReentrantLock in Java?

A ReentrantLock is a synchronization aid that allows threads to lock and unlock resources in a flexible way.

How does it differ from synchronized blocks?

Unlike synchronized blocks, ReentrantLock provides more features like tryLock, timed lock, and the ability to interrupt threads.

Can you give an example of using ReentrantLock?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

ReentrantLock lock = new ReentrantLock();

lock.lock();
try {
    // critical section code
} finally {
    lock.unlock();
}

When should I use ReentrantLock instead of synchronized?

Use ReentrantLock when you need advanced features like fairness policies or when you want to avoid blocking indefinitely.