Question

What is the purpose of the C# method lock( )?

1) For declaring a lock on an object
2) For synchronizing parallel threads
3) For accessing a shared resource
4) For managing exceptions

Answer 1

The C# lock() method is used to ensure that only one thread can execute a block of code at a time when dealing with shared resources to prevent race conditions. It is designed for synchronizing parallel threads, thus ensuring thread safety.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of the C# lock() method is primarily for synchronizing access to a block of code that can be accessed by multiple threads simultaneously. When using the lock() statement, you are ensuring that a segment of code is not executed by more than one thread at a time. This is critical when threads are attempting to read or write shared data, as unsynchronized access could lead to race conditions, corrupt data, or unpredictable behaviors. The lock() statement is used to create a critical section around the code that accesses the shared resource, with only one thread being allowed to execute the code within the lock at any given time.

In terms of the options provided by the student's question, the most accurate description would be 2) For synchronizing parallel threads. While it's true that a lock is declared on an object, and accessing a shared resource is often the reason for synchronization, the primary intent behind the lock mechanism is to ensure thread safety by serializing the access of parallel threads to a code block.