Release consistency is a memory consistency model used in distributed systems. It ensures that operations appear to be executed in a specific order, allowing processes to see updates made by others in a predictable manner. This model allows for some flexibility, as it permits certain operations to be reordered as long as the overall consistency is maintained. In release consistency, synchronization operations, like locks or barriers, play a crucial role. When a process releases a lock, it guarantees that all previous operations are visible to other processes that subsequently acquire the same lock. This helps maintain a coherent view of memory across different processes in a system.