ReadWriteLock

Definitions

1. A Java interface (java.util.concurrent.locks.ReadWriteLock) that provides a pair of associated locks — one for read-only operations and one for writing — returned via readLock() and writeLock(). Its primary implementation, ReentrantReadWriteLock, supports reentrancy, fair/unfair ordering policies, and lock downgrading from write to read.

   In plain English: A Java tool that lets many threads read shared data at the same time but ensures only one thread can modify it at a time.

   Example: "We use a ReentrantReadWriteLock on the in-memory cache — the read lock lets concurrent lookups proceed, and the write lock blocks during cache refresh."

Related Terms

• Mutex
• Greenthread
• JPA
• JSR
• Reactive Stream
• Read Lock
• Read-Write Lock
• Runnable
• Servlet Container
• Spin Lock
• Synchronized
• Write Lock