Exclusive Locks

Exclusive locks are a type of control used in databases to manage simultaneous data access. When a transaction acquires an exclusive lock on a data item, it ensures that no other transaction can read or modify that item until the lock is released. This mechanism prevents conflicts and preserves data integrity during updates. Think of it like locking a file in a shared workspace—only one person can edit it at a time, and others must wait until it's unlocked. Exclusive locks are crucial for maintaining consistency when making changes to data.