What is optimistic concurrency in database systems?

What is optimistic concurrency in database systems?

Optimistic concurrency is a strategy used in database systems to handle concurrent transactions. It assumes that multiple transactions can complete without affecting each other, and it checks for conflicts only at the time of committing.

How does it differ from pessimistic concurrency?

Unlike optimistic concurrency, which allows transactions to proceed without locking resources, pessimistic concurrency locks resources to prevent conflicts, which can lead to reduced performance.

What are the advantages of using optimistic concurrency?

The main advantages include improved performance in environments with low contention, as it reduces the overhead of locking resources, and it allows for greater scalability.

Can you give an example of where it might be used?

Sure! Optimistic concurrency is often used in web applications where many users read data but only a few update it, such as in online shopping carts.