What is a deadlock in computing?

A deadlock in computing refers to a specific condition that occurs when two or more processes are unable to proceed because each one is waiting for a resource that the other holds. This creates a cycle of dependency where none of the processes can move forward, effectively bringing the involved computations to a standstill.

In a deadlock situation, there are typically at least two processes and at least one resource shared between them. For instance, if Process A holds Resource 1 and is waiting for Resource 2, while Process B holds Resource 2 and is waiting for Resource 1, neither can continue or release the resources they are holding. Hence, they become "stuck" in this waiting state. This phenomenon is crucial in the study of concurrency in operating systems, as it directly relates to resource management and process scheduling.

Understanding deadlocks is important because they can lead to inefficiencies in system performance. Effective strategies such as deadlock prevention, avoidance, and detection are often implemented in operating systems to handle these situations and ensure smooth process execution.