ICT Mock Interview

Practice 25 ICT interview questions covering infrastructure, security, and technical problem-solving.

Question 11 of 25

Describe the difference between optimistic and pessimistic locking.

  • Entry Level

  • How to Answer

  • Example Answer

  • Community Answers

William Swansen
William Swansen

William Swansen has worked in the employment assistance realm since 2007. He is an author, job search strategist, and career advisor who helps individuals worldwide and in various professions to find their ideal careers.

"While these are both record locking technologies, their function differs dramatically. I pessimistic locking, when are user updates a record it is then locked. The record can only be updated again after the record is unlocked. Conversely, using optimistic locking, a record can be updated by one user and then other users can update it. The only time the record is locked is when a user is actively updating it. Optimistic locking is applied to applications where users are allowed to collaborate with each other."