Java Threads
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Java Threads
Threads allows a program to operate more efficiently by doing multiple things at the same
time.
Threads can be used to perform complicated tasks in the background without interrupting
the main program.
Creating a Thread
There are two ways to create a thread.
It can be created by extending the Thread class and overriding its run()
method:
Extend Syntax
public class Main extends Thread {
public void run() {
System.out.println("This code is running in a thread");
}
}
Another way to create a thread is to implement the Runnable interface:
Implement Syntax
public class Main implements Runnable {
public void run() {
System.out.println("This code is running in a thread");
}
}
Running Threads
If the class extends the Thread class, the thread can be run by creating an instance of the
class and call its start() method:
Extend Example
public class Main extends Thread {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Main thread = new Main();
thread.start();
System.out.println("This code is outside of the thread");
}
public void run() {
System.out.println("This code is running in a thread");
}
}
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If the class implements the Runnable interface, the thread can be run by passing an
instance of the class to a Thread object's constructor and then calling the thread's
start() method:
Implement Example
public class Main implements Runnable {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Main obj = new Main();
Thread thread = new Thread(obj);
thread.start();
System.out.println("This code is outside of the thread");
}
public void run() {
System.out.println("This code is running in a thread");
}
}
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Differences between "extending" and "implementing" Threads
The major difference is that when a class extends the Thread class, you cannot extend any other class, but by implementing the Runnable interface,
it is possible to extend from another class as well, like: class MyClass extends OtherClass implements Runnable.
Concurrency Problems
Because threads run at the same time as other parts of the program, there is no way to
know in which order the code will run. When the threads and main program are reading
and writing the same variables, the values are unpredictable. The problems that result
from this are called concurrency problems.
Example
A code example where the value of the variable amount is unpredictable:
public class Main extends Thread {
public static int amount = 0;
public static void main(String[] args) {
Main thread = new Main();
thread.start();
System.out.println(amount);
amount++;
System.out.println(amount);
}
public void run() {
amount++;
}
}
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To avoid concurrency problems, it is best to share as few attributes between threads as
possible. If attributes need to be shared, one possible solution is to use the isAlive()
method of the thread to check whether the thread has finished running before using any
attributes that the thread can change.
Example
Use isAlive() to prevent concurrency problems:
public class Main extends Thread {
public static int amount = 0;
public static void main(String[] args) {
Main thread = new Main();
thread.start();
// Wait for the thread to finish
while(thread.isAlive()) {
System.out.println("Waiting...");
}
// Update amount and print its value
System.out.println("Main: " + amount);
amount++;
System.out.println("Main: " + amount);
}
public void run() {
amount++;
}
}
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