"Lock-free" refers to a type of concurrent programming design that allows multiple threads to operate on shared data without using traditional locking mechanisms. This approach helps prevent issues like deadlocks, where two or more threads are stuck waiting for each other to release resources. Instead, lock-free algorithms ensure that at least one thread can make progress at any given time, improving overall system efficiency. In lock-free systems, operations are typically managed using atomic operations, which are indivisible and ensure data integrity. This means that even if multiple threads attempt to modify the same data simultaneously, the system can handle these changes without requiring locks, leading to better performance in high-concurrency environments, such as those found in multithreaded applications or real-time systems.