Critical sections in locking mechanisms

A critical section is a part of a computer program where access to shared resources, like data or files, must be controlled to prevent conflicts or errors. When multiple processes or threads try to access the same resource simultaneously, it can cause problems like data corruption. Locking mechanisms ensure that only one process can enter the critical section at a time, maintaining data integrity. Think of it as a turn-taking system: a lock grants exclusive access, and releasing the lock allows others to proceed, ensuring safe and coordinated sharing of resources.