When should I use pessimistic locking in my application?

When should I use pessimistic locking in my application?

Pessimistic locking is useful when you expect high contention for resources. It prevents other transactions from accessing the locked data.

Can you give me an example of a scenario where it's beneficial?

Sure! If you have a banking application where multiple users might try to withdraw from the same account simultaneously, pessimistic locking ensures that only one transaction can proceed at a time.

What are the downsides of using pessimistic locking?

The main downsides are potential performance bottlenecks and deadlocks, as it can lead to longer wait times for other transactions.

Are there alternatives to pessimistic locking?

Yes, optimistic locking is a common alternative, where transactions proceed without locking but check for conflicts before committing.