Answer
Lock escalation converts many row/page locks into a single table lock to reduce overhead.
Impact:
- Fewer locks = lower memory use
- But higher blocking risk
Quick Answer
When individual row or page locks hit a threshold (~5,000), SQL Server escalates to a single table lock to reduce lock manager overhead. This improves efficiency but completely blocks other transactions from accessing the table. Problematic in high-concurrency workloads — can cause cascading blocking chains.
S
SugharaIQ Editorial Team
Verified Answer
This answer has been peer-reviewed by industry experts holding senior engineering roles to ensure technical accuracy and relevance for modern interview standards.
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Source: SugharaIQ