Airlock

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An airlock is a compartment which permits passage between environments of differing atmospheric pressure or composition while minimizing the mixing of environments or change in pressure in the adjoining spaces. "Airlock" is sometimes written as air-lock or air lock, or abbreviated to just lock.

An airlock consists of a chamber with two airtight doors or openings, usually arranged in series, which do not open simultaneously. Airlocks can be small-scale mechanisms, such as those used in fermenting, or larger mechanisms, which often take the form of an antechamber.

An airlock may also be used underwater to allow passage between the air environment in a pressure vessel, such as a submarine, and the water environment outside. In such cases the airlock can contain air or water. This is called a floodable airlock or underwater airlock, and is used to prevent water from entering a submersible vessel or underwater habitat.