Pessimistic lock in T-SQL

Question

If i SELECT a row for updating in MS SQL Server, and want to have it locked till i either update or cancel, which option is better :-

1) Use a query hint like UPDLOC

Answer 1

If you're waiting on another resource such as an end-user, then take Dave Markle's advice and don't do it.

Otherwise, try the following T-SQL code:

BEGIN TRAN

SELECT *
FROM   authors AU
WITH   (HOLDLOCK, ROWLOCK)
WHERE  AU.au_id = '274-80-9391'

/* Do all your stuff here while the row is locked */

COMMIT TRAN

The HOLDLOCK hint politely asks SQL Server to hold the lock until you commit the transaction. The ROWLOCK hint politely asks SQL Server to lock only this row rather than issuing a page or table lock.

Be aware that if lots of rows are affected, either SQL Server will take the initiative and escalate to page locks, or you'll have a whole army of row locks filling your server's memory and bogging down processing.