Re: Latches

Ryn wrote:
>
> Hello folks,
>
> What exactly is a latch? I am trying to find out what the term
> means. Also, how does Oracle use Intimate Shared Memory?
>
> Thanks for any info,
>
> - Ryn

To use a very poor metaphor - think of driving a car. The actually drive a car is a very complicated thing (gears, accelerator, steering etc)...But to get into the car, you need something very simple - keys.

Thus you can use a simple (and fast) mechanism to control access to a complicated mechanism...

Latches are the simple/fast mechanism of getting access to more complicated memory structures..

hth
connor

-- 
===========================================
Connor McDonald
http://www.oracledba.co.uk (mirrored at
http://www.oradba.freeserve.co.uk)

"Some days you're the pigeon, some days you're the statue"