What are race conditions in Python and how can I avoid them?

What are race conditions in Python and how can I avoid them?

Race conditions occur when multiple threads or processes access shared data simultaneously, leading to unpredictable results. To avoid them, you can use synchronization techniques like locks, semaphores, or queues.

Can you give me an example of a race condition in Python?

Sure! Consider two threads incrementing a shared counter without synchronization. If both read the counter at the same time, they might both increment it, resulting in a lost update.

How can I implement a lock to prevent this?

You can use the threading.Lock class. Wrap the code that modifies the shared resource with lock.acquire() and lock.release() to ensure only one thread can access it at a time.

Are there any libraries that can help with this?

Yes, the threading module is built into Python and provides various synchronization primitives. Additionally, libraries like multiprocessing can help manage processes and avoid race conditions.