What is livelock and how does it occur in real-world scenarios?

What is livelock and how does it occur in real-world scenarios?

Livelock is a situation where two or more processes continuously change their state in response to each other without making progress. It often occurs in systems where processes are trying to avoid conflict.

Can you give me an example of livelock in everyday life?

Sure! Imagine two cars at a narrow intersection. If both drivers try to yield to each other, they might end up moving back and forth without either car being able to pass.

How can livelock be prevented in programming?

To prevent livelock, you can implement strategies like introducing randomness in decision-making or using timeouts to force a process to wait before retrying.

Are there any real-world systems that have experienced livelock?

Yes, livelock can occur in network protocols where devices continuously resend messages to each other without completing the transmission.

What are the differences between livelock and deadlock?

Livelock involves processes actively changing states but not progressing, while deadlock occurs when processes are stuck waiting for each other indefinitely.