What is thread safety in Python and why is it important?

What is thread safety in Python and why is it important?

Thread safety in Python refers to the property of a program to function correctly during simultaneous execution by multiple threads. It's important because it prevents data corruption and ensures that shared resources are accessed in a controlled manner.

Can you give me an example of a thread-safe operation?

Sure! Using a threading.Lock is a common way to ensure thread safety. For example, you can lock a section of code that modifies a shared variable to prevent other threads from accessing it simultaneously.

What happens if I don't implement thread safety?

If you don't implement thread safety, you may encounter issues like race conditions, where the outcome depends on the sequence of thread execution, leading to unpredictable behavior and data corruption.

Are there built-in libraries in Python that help with thread safety?

Yes, Python's threading module provides several tools for thread safety, including Lock, RLock, Semaphore, and Event, which help manage access to shared resources.