When should I use read-write locks?

When should I use read-write locks in my application?

Read-write locks are useful when you have multiple threads that need to read data frequently but write data infrequently.

Can you explain how they improve performance?

Sure! They allow multiple readers to access the data simultaneously, which improves performance when reads are more common than writes.

Are there any downsides to using read-write locks?

Yes, if there are too many write operations, it can lead to contention and reduce performance, so it's important to analyze your use case.

What scenarios would you recommend avoiding them?

Avoid them in scenarios with high write contention or when the overhead of managing the locks outweighs the benefits.