---
title: "Deadlock — Database Glossary | Xata"
description: "A situation where two or more transactions each hold a lock the other needs, creating a circular dependency. PostgreSQL detects deadlocks automatically ..."
source: "https://xata.io/glossary/deadlock"
---

# Deadlock

Transactions

A situation where two or more transactions each hold a lock the other needs, creating a circular dependency. PostgreSQL detects deadlocks automatically and aborts one transaction to break the cycle.

Related terms

[Lock](/glossary/lock)

[← Back to glossary](/glossary)