Definition:
In Oracle PL/SQL, the term SHARE refers to the locking mode of a table. A table can be explicitly locked using the LOCK TABLE command in SHARE or ROW SHARE mode.
A ROW SHARE table lock indicates that a set of rows in a table are held in a transaction. It allows users to query, insert, update or delete in the same table.
SHARE mode locks a table such that other transactions can only query the table, but restricts UPDATE operations. Multiple transactions can hold share table locks for the same table concurrently. No transaction can update the table (with SELECT... FOR UPDATE). Therefore, a transaction that has a share table lock can update the table only if no other transaction also has a share table lock on the same table.
Other locking modes available in Oracle are EXCLUSIVE, ROW EXCLUSIVE and SHARE ROW EXCLUSIVE
Example Syntax:
LOCK TABLE [TABLE NAME] IN [SHARE | ROW SHARE] MODE
Example Usage:
SQL> LOCK TABLE ORDERS IN SHARE MODE;
Table(s) Locked.