In the context of concurrent programming and operating systems, a deadlock describes a situation where two or more processes are blocked indefinitely, each waiting for a resource that the other holds. For instance, process A might hold resource X and be waiting for resource Y, while process B holds resource Y and is waiting for resource X. This creates a circular dependency, preventing either process from proceeding. The consequences are significant, potentially halting the entire system or a crucial part of it.
Deadlocks are detrimental to system performance and reliability. The stalled processes consume resources without making progress, leading to reduced throughput and responsiveness. Historically, addressing this issue has involved various strategies including deadlock prevention, avoidance, detection, and recovery. Each approach balances the need to eliminate deadlocks against the overhead of implementing the solution. Early operating systems were particularly vulnerable, and much research has been directed at developing robust and efficient methods for managing resource allocation.
