What is a deadlock?

Correct option is A

A deadlock occurs in a system when multiple processes are blocked, each waiting for a resource that another process holds. Since no process can proceed, the system becomes stuck in an indefinite waiting state.
Important Key Points:
1. Deadlocks commonly occur in multi-processing systems where shared resources are involved.
2. To resolve deadlocks, strategies like deadlock prevention, avoidance, or detection and recovery are used.
3. Conditions for a deadlock include mutual exclusion, hold and wait, no preemption, and circular wait.
Knowledge Booster:
1. Deadlock is one of the critical challenges in operating system design.
2. Algorithms like the Banker’s Algorithm help in deadlock avoidance.
3. Deadlocks can severely impact system performance and require careful resource management.