When tables are locked does MySQL queue queries?

Question

I have a small production website, but it's live 24/7. When running the Optimize, Analyze or Repair commands, MySQL locks the table it is working on.

QUESTIONS

• How would this effect users trying to make changes from a Perl application?
• Are queries queued for the time table is locked and then processed (assuming the application does not time out)?
• Do queries simply not work?

Thanks!

/usman