Read Lock

Definitions

1. A shared lock that allows multiple threads to read a resource concurrently but blocks any thread attempting to acquire a write lock on the same resource. Read locks enable high-throughput access for read-heavy workloads while ensuring writers have exclusive access when they need to mutate data.

   In plain English: A lock that lets many threads read data at the same time but makes anyone who wants to change the data wait until all readers are done.

   Example: "The config map is protected by a read lock — hundreds of goroutines can read it simultaneously, but reloading the config takes the write lock and blocks until all readers finish."

Related Terms

• Mutex
• Greenthread
• web worker
• Read-Write Lock
• ReadWriteLock
• Spin Lock
• Synchronized
• Write Lock