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Global interpreter lock
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<p>A global interpreter lock (GIL) is a mechanism used in computer-language <a href="/facts/Interpreter_(computing)/JB85fbyb">interpreters</a> to synchronize the execution of <a href="/facts/Threads_(computer_science)/hh8WHyPd">threads</a> so that only one native thread (per process) can execute basic operations (such as <a href="/facts/Memory_allocation/vthLkUpz">memory allocation</a> and <a href="/facts/Reference_counting/jbPcXuXe">reference counting</a>) at a time. As a general rule, an interpreter that uses GIL will see only one thread to execute at a time, even if it runs on a <a href="/facts/Multi-core_processor/ABNb65hQ">multi-core processor</a>, although some implementations provide for <a href="/facts/CPU-bound/o6xJNsB4">CPU intensive</a> code to release the GIL, allowing multiple threads to use multiple cores. Some popular interpreters that have GIL are <a href="/facts/CPython/kMhXKEGC">CPython</a> and <a href="/facts/Ruby_MRI/rxzL7hAR">Ruby MRI</a>. </p>