(r s rs lok ing) (n.) The process of protecting the data in a database in a multiprocessing environment. Situations in which multiple users access common data at the same time require a method of ensuring the integrity of the data to ensure that more than one user does not write data to the database at the same time, which would result in data conflicts. In a DBMS, the degree of locking differs depending on how many users, or resources sharing data, are given locking and unlocking privileges.
