Concurrency Control in Seat Booking: Complete Guide
· 8 min read
When multiple users try to book the same seat simultaneously, we need concurrency control mechanisms to ensure only one user succeeds. Let me explain each approach step by step.
The Core Problem
Timeline of Concurrent Requests:
T1: User A checks seat C1 → Available ✅
T2: User B checks seat C1 → Available ✅
T3: User C checks seat C1 → Available ✅
T4: User A books seat C1 → Success
T5: User B books seat C1 → Success (PROBLEM!)
T6: User C books seat C1 → Success (PROBLEM!)
Result: Triple booking without concurrency control