When should you prefer ReentrantLock and when should you avoid it?

ReentrantLock is a synchronization aid that allows threads to safely access shared resources. It provides more flexibility than traditional synchronized blocks/methods but comes with its own trade-offs.

When to Prefer ReentrantLock

Advanced Locking Mechanisms: If you require features such as try-lock, timed lock, or ability to interrupt locks, ReentrantLock is preferred.
Multiple Condition Variables: ReentrantLock allows for multiple conditions (Condition objects) to be associated within a single lock, offering more complex signaling mechanisms.
Fairness Policy: Choose ReentrantLock if you need a fairness policy that can prevent thread starvation by defining the order of thread access.

When to Avoid ReentrantLock

Complexity: For simple synchronization tasks, the use of synchronized blocks/methods is easier to understand and implement.
Performance Considerations: If the locking overhead introduced by ReentrantLock negatively impacts performance, it may be better to use synchronized methods.
Potential for Deadlocks: With the added flexibility comes added complexity, which can lead to unintentional deadlocks if not used carefully.

Example Usage of ReentrantLock


        <?php
        class SharedResource {
            private $lock;
            private $resource;

            public function __construct() {
                $this->lock = new ReentrantLock();
                $this->resource = 0;
            }

            public function increment() {
                $this->lock->lock();
                try {
                    $this->resource++;
                } finally {
                    $this->lock->unlock();
                }
            }

            public function getResource() {
                return $this->resource;
            }
        }
        ?>

When should you prefer ReentrantLock and when should you avoid it?

When to Prefer ReentrantLock

When to Avoid ReentrantLock

Example Usage of ReentrantLock

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When should you prefer ReentrantLock and when should you avoid it?

When to Prefer ReentrantLock

When to Avoid ReentrantLock

Example Usage of ReentrantLock

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Popular Topics

Recent Languages