ITPEC FE Morning October 2020 Question 29

Source exam: ITPEC FE Morning October 2020Topic: Databases

ITPEC FE Morning October 2020 — Question 29 of 80

Lock Granularity — the size of the data unit a transaction locks (row, page, table, database).

  • Large granularity (e.g., table-level lock): fewer locks needed, but other transactions must wait longer → lower throughput
  • Small granularity (e.g., row-level lock): more locks needed, but other transactions can work in parallel → higher throughput

Why (c):
- Large granularity blocks more data per lock → other transactions wait → throughput declines

Why not others:
- (a) Large granularity reduces concurrency, not increases it

- (b) Large granularity does not leave other transactions' data "undisturbed" — it blocks more data

- (d) Large granularity decreases the number of locks (one lock covers more data), not increases

Key rule: Large granularity = fewer locks + less concurrency. Small granularity = more locks + more concurrency.

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