What are synchronization primitives in Python?

What are synchronization primitives in Python?

Synchronization primitives are tools that help manage access to shared resources in concurrent programming. In Python, common primitives include locks, events, semaphores, and conditions.

Can you explain how a lock works in Python?

Sure! A lock in Python is a synchronization primitive that allows only one thread to access a resource at a time. You can use the threading.Lock class to create a lock, and the acquire() and release() methods to control access.

What happens if a thread tries to acquire a lock that is already held?

If a thread tries to acquire a lock that is already held by another thread, it will block and wait until the lock is released. This prevents race conditions and ensures data integrity.

Are there any alternatives to locks for synchronization?

Yes, alternatives include semaphores, which allow a certain number of threads to access a resource, and conditions, which let threads wait for certain conditions to be met before proceeding.