What are some real-world examples of optimistic locking?

What are some real-world examples of optimistic locking?

Optimistic locking is often used in database systems to prevent conflicts. For example, in an online booking system, when two users try to book the last available seat, optimistic locking ensures that only one booking is successful.

Can you give me another example?

Sure! In collaborative document editing tools like Google Docs, optimistic locking allows multiple users to edit a document simultaneously without immediate locking, merging changes later.

How does optimistic locking differ from pessimistic locking?

Optimistic locking assumes that conflicts are rare and allows transactions to proceed without locking resources, while pessimistic locking locks resources to prevent conflicts, which can lead to reduced performance.

What are the benefits of using optimistic locking?

The main benefits include improved performance, reduced contention for resources, and a better user experience in applications where conflicts are infrequent.