What are the differences between locks and reentrant locks?

Can you explain the differences between locks and reentrant locks?

Sure! Locks are synchronization primitives that prevent multiple threads from accessing a resource simultaneously. Reentrant locks, on the other hand, allow the same thread to acquire the lock multiple times without causing a deadlock.

Why would I use a reentrant lock instead of a regular lock?

Reentrant locks are useful when a thread needs to call a method that requires the same lock it already holds. This prevents deadlocks and allows for more flexible code.

Are there any performance differences between the two?

Yes, reentrant locks can introduce some overhead due to their ability to track the number of times a thread has acquired the lock. Regular locks are generally faster but less flexible.

Can you give me an example of when to use each?

Certainly! Use a regular lock for simple resource protection. Use a reentrant lock in scenarios like recursive function calls where the same thread needs to acquire the lock multiple times.