What are Python locks and how do they work?

What are Python locks and how do they work?

Python locks are synchronization primitives that help manage access to shared resources in multithreaded programs. They prevent race conditions by ensuring that only one thread can access a resource at a time.

Can you explain how to implement a lock in Python?

Sure! You can use the threading module. First, import it, then create a lock using lock = threading.Lock(). Use lock.acquire() before accessing the shared resource and lock.release() after you're done.

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.

Are there any alternatives to using locks in Python?

Yes, alternatives include using RLock (reentrant lock), Semaphore, or higher-level constructs like Queue for thread-safe operations.