What are livelocks in computer science?

What are livelocks in computer science?

Livelocks are a situation in concurrent programming where two or more processes continuously change states in response to each other without making any progress.

Can you give me an example of a livelock?

Sure! Imagine two people trying to pass each other in a narrow hallway. If both step to the left, they block each other, and they keep stepping left and right without moving forward.

How do livelocks differ from deadlocks?

In a deadlock, processes are stuck and cannot proceed, while in a livelock, they keep changing states but still can't make progress.

What are some strategies to avoid livelocks?

To avoid livelocks, you can implement randomized backoff strategies, use timeouts, or prioritize certain processes to ensure progress.