Definition:
A deadlock is a situation where two or more processes are blocked indefinitely, each waiting for the other to release a resource that they need to continue execution. None of the processes can proceed, creating a circular dependency.
Example:
- Banking System Scenario
# Process A needs Account1 and Account2
# Process B needs Account2 and Account1
Process A:
1. Lock Account1 ✅
2. Wait for Account2 ⏳ (held by Process B)
Process B:
1. Lock Account2 ✅
2. Wait for Account1 ⏳ (held by Process A)
Result: Both processes wait forever! 🔄- Traffic Intersection Analogy Imagine four cars at a 4-way intersection:
- Each car occupies one lane
- Each needs the lane occupied by the next car
- No car can move forward
- Result: Complete gridlock!