Verrouillables

Verrouillables is a term used to describe objects, components, or systems that can be secured by a locking mechanism. In English, the adjective is lockable, and the French plural verrouillables covers both physical devices and abstract resources that can be immobilized or protected by a lock. The concept spans practical hardware applications as well as software and information security contexts.

In mechanical and hardware contexts, verrouillables include doors, cabinets, containers, fasteners, and tools equipped with a locking feature. Common locking mechanisms include cylindrical and lever locks, padlocks, cam locks, and locking nuts or bolts. Verrouillables are chosen for their resistance to tampering, ease of authorized access, and suitability for maintenance or regulated access, with design considerations covering strength, durability, and compatibility with keys, codes, or electronic access controls.

In computing and software, a verrouillable resource is one that can be locked to enforce mutual exclusion and protect data integrity. Examples include mutexes, critical sections, file locks, and database row or table locks. Locking in software helps prevent race conditions but requires careful handling to avoid deadlocks, priority inversion, and lock contention. The term is used in both concurrent programming and multi-user data management to indicate resources that can be immobilized to preserve correctness or security.

Industries that rely on verrouillables include construction, manufacturing, logistics, and facility management, where secure access and controlled handling are important. Standards often address the durability and security of locking devices, as well as best practices for implementing and managing locks in both physical and digital environments.

See also: lock, locking mechanism, padlock, mutex, deadbolt, access control.