What are some real-world examples of read-write locks?

What are some real-world examples of read-write locks?

Read-write locks are used in databases, file systems, and multi-threaded applications to manage access to shared resources.

Can you give me a specific example in a database context?

Sure! In a database, a read-write lock allows multiple transactions to read data simultaneously while ensuring that only one transaction can write to the data at a time.

How does this improve performance?

It improves performance by allowing concurrent reads, which is common in databases, while still maintaining data integrity during writes.

Are there any downsides to using read-write locks?

Yes, if not managed properly, they can lead to issues like deadlocks or increased complexity in the code.