In modern applications, performing multiple tasks simultaneously can lead to more efficient and responsive software. Java's multi-threading capabilities allow developers to run code concurrently without blocking the main execution flow.
Understanding threads, synchronization, and concurrency handling is crucial for building high-performance and robust applications.
Multi-threading in Java allows concurrent execution of two or more threads. A thread is a lightweight subprocess, the smallest unit of processing. Java provides built-in support for multi-threading via the Thread class and the Runnable interface.
Comprehensive guide to Java's multithreading model and concurrency handling.
class MyTask implements Runnable {
public void run() {
for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
System.out.println(Thread.currentThread().getName() + " - Count: " + i);
}
}
}
public class ThreadDemo {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Thread t1 = new Thread(new MyTask());
Thread t2 = new Thread(new MyTask());
t1.start();
t2.start();
}
}
Used for background tasks such as file downloads, data processing, or I/O operations.
Web servers use threads to handle multiple client requests simultaneously.
Critical systems like industrial automation and robotics depend on multi-threading for real-time responsiveness.
A process is an independent executing program with its own memory space, while a thread is a subset of a process sharing the same memory.
Improves application performance, responsiveness, and efficient CPU usage by executing tasks concurrently.
Synchronization is a mechanism to control access to shared resources by multiple threads to prevent race conditions.