Multithreading
________________________________________________
1. Introduction to Multithreading
Definition: Multithreading is the capability of a CPU, or a single core in a multi-core processor,
to execute multiple threads concurrently.
● Thread: A thread is a lightweight sub-process; it’s the smallest unit of processing.
● Multitasking: Executing multiple tasks at the same time.
○ Process-based: Each process has its own memory.
○ Thread-based: Multiple threads within the same process share memory.
● Why Multithreading:
○ Efficient CPU utilization
○ Simultaneous tasks like file download + media playback
○ Better performance in I/O operations
🧠 Why is it Used?
Multithreading is used to:
✅ Improve CPU utilization
✅ Perform tasks in parallel (e.g., downloading files while updating UI)
✅ Enhance performance in multicore systems
✅ Prevent UI freezing in GUI applications
✅ Handle concurrent users/requests in server applications
🔧 How Java Supports Multithreading:
Java provides rich support for multithreading via:
1. Thread class
2. Runnable interface
3. Executors / ThreadPool
4. Synchronization and Inter-thread communication
2. Creating Threads in Java
Java provides two main ways to create threads:
a) Extending Thread class
class MyThread extends Thread {
public void run() {
System.out.println("Thread running");
}
}
public class Demo {
public static void main(String[] args) {
MyThread t = new MyThread();
t.start(); // starts the thread and calls run()
}
b) Implementing Runnable interface
class MyRunnable implements Runnable {
public void run() {
System.out.println("Runnable thread running");
}
}
public class Demo {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Thread t = new Thread(new MyRunnable());
t.start();
}
}
3. Thread Lifecycle (States)
Java threads go through the following states:
1. New
2. Runnable
3. Running
4. Blocked/Waiting
5. Terminated
Use methods like start(), sleep(), join(), wait(), notify(), stop() (deprecated) to
control the states.
class LifecycleDemo extends Thread {
public void run() {
System.out.println("Thread running...");
}
public static void main(String[] args) throws InterruptedException
{
LifecycleDemo t = new LifecycleDemo();
System.out.println("State before start: " + t.getState());
t.start();
System.out.println("State after start: " + t.getState());
t.join();
System.out.println("State after finish: " + t.getState());
}
}
4. Thread Methods
Commonly used methods:
Method Description
start() Starts the thread
run() Entry point of thread logic
sleep(ms) Suspends thread temporarily
join() Waits for a thread to finish execution
isAlive() Checks if thread is still alive
setPriority() Sets thread priority (1–10)
getPriority() Gets thread priority
yield() Pauses current thread for others
class ThreadMethods extends Thread {
public void run() {
for (int i = 1; i <= 3; i++) {
System.out.println(Thread.currentThread().getName() + " " + i);
try {
Thread.sleep(500);
} catch (InterruptedException e) {}
}
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
ThreadMethods t1 = new ThreadMethods();
ThreadMethods t2 = new ThreadMethods();
t1.setName("Thread-1");
t2.setName("Thread-2");
t1.start();
t2.start();
}
}
5. Thread Priorities
● Java uses integer values between 1 and 10.
○ Thread.MIN_PRIORITY = 1
○ Thread.NORM_PRIORITY = 5
○ Thread.MAX_PRIORITY = 10
● Schedulers may consider priority, but not guaranteed.
public class PriorityExample extends Thread {
public void run() {
System.out.println(getName() + " Priority: " + getPriority());
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
PriorityExample t1 = new PriorityExample();
PriorityExample t2 = new PriorityExample();
t1.setPriority(Thread.MIN_PRIORITY);
t2.setPriority(Thread.MAX_PRIORITY);
t1.start();
t2.start();
}
}
6. Daemon Threads
● Daemon threads are background service threads like garbage collection.
● Use setDaemon(true) before start().
class DaemonExample extends Thread {
public void run() {
if (Thread.currentThread().isDaemon()) {
System.out.println("Daemon thread running");
} else {
System.out.println("User thread running");
}
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
DaemonExample d = new DaemonExample();
d.setDaemon(true);
d.start();
DaemonExample u = new DaemonExample();
u.start();
}
}
