What are race conditions and how can they be avoided?

What are race conditions and how can they be avoided?

Race conditions occur when multiple threads or processes access shared data and try to change it at the same time. This can lead to unpredictable results. To avoid race conditions, you can use synchronization techniques like locks, semaphores, or by designing your program to minimize shared state.

Can you give me an example of a race condition?

Sure! Imagine two threads trying to increment the same counter variable. If both threads read the value at the same time, they might both increment it and write back the same value, resulting in a lost update.

How do locks work to prevent race conditions?

Locks work by allowing only one thread to access a critical section of code at a time. When a thread acquires a lock, other threads that try to acquire the same lock will be blocked until the lock is released.

Are there any downsides to using locks?

Yes, using locks can lead to issues like deadlocks, where two or more threads are waiting on each other to release locks, causing the program to hang. It's important to design your locking strategy carefully.