DatabasesIntermediate
Deadlock
PronunciationDED-lok
Definition
A deadlock occurs when two or more processes are unable to proceed because each is waiting for the other to release a resource, such as a database lock. This results in a state where neither process can complete its task.
Where you hear it
Database performance monitoring, transaction management discussions, and troubleshooting system hangs.
Examples
The system terminated the transaction because a deadlock was detected.
We need to optimize our query order to prevent frequent deadlocks.
Common mistake
Confusing a deadlock with a simple slow query; a deadlock is a specific state of mutual dependency, whereas a slow query is just a performance bottleneck.