Answer
Optimistic locking checks data versions and assumes few conflicts. Pessimistic locking blocks rows until transactions complete.
Quick Answer
Optimistic locking assumes conflicts are rare — reads happen without locks, and at write time you check if the record changed since you read it (via version field). If changed, retry. Pessimistic locking locks the record upfront, preventing others from modifying it until you're done. Optimistic is better for high-read, low-conflict workloads; pessimistic for frequent write conflicts.
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