låsordning

Låsordning is a Swedish term that translates to "lock order" or "sequence of locking." It refers to the specific order in which locks on a system, such as a database, a computer file, or a mechanical system, must be acquired and released to prevent conflicts and ensure data integrity or proper system operation. This concept is crucial in concurrent systems where multiple processes or threads might attempt to access shared resources simultaneously.

In database management, låsordning is essential for maintaining consistency. If multiple transactions try to update the same data, a predefined låsordning ensures that locks are acquired in a consistent manner across all transactions. For example, if two transactions need to lock tables A and B, a strict låsordning might dictate that table A must always be locked before table B. Violating this order can lead to deadlocks, where transactions are permanently blocked, waiting for each other to release locks that they will never be able to acquire.

Similarly, in operating systems and computer programming, låsordning applies to the management of shared memory or resources. When multiple threads or processes access critical sections of code that modify shared data, they must acquire locks in a specific order to avoid race conditions. Designing systems with a clear and enforced låsordning is a fundamental practice in concurrent programming to guarantee predictable and correct behavior. The principle behind låsordning is to establish a total ordering of all resources that can be locked, ensuring that all agents seeking to acquire multiple locks follow this same order.