Java Program to Create a Thread
Last Updated :
21 Jan, 2025
Thread can be referred to as a lightweight process. Thread uses fewer resources to create and exist in the process; thread shares process resources. The main thread of Java is the thread that is started when the program starts. The slave thread is created as a result of the main thread. This is the last thread to complete the execution.
A thread can programmatically be created by:
You can create threads by implementing the runnable interface and overriding the run() method. Then, you can create a thread object and call the start() method.
Creating Threads in Java
There are multiple ways to create threads in Java:
1. Thread Class
The Thread class provides constructors and methods for creating and operating on threads. The thread extends the Object and implements the Runnable interface.
Method:
public void start()
It starts a newly created thread. Thread moves from new state to runnable state when it gets a chance, executes the target run() method
Use Case: Suitable for simple applications for creating a thread that performs a specific task.
Implementation:
Java
// Extending Thread in Class
import java.io.*;
// Class inheriting Thread class
class MyThread extends Thread
{
// Overriding the run method
@Override
public void run(){
System.out.print("Welcome to GeeksforGeeks.");
}
}
class Geeks
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Creating thread
MyThread t1 = new MyThread();
// Starting thread
t1.start();
}
}
OutputWelcome to GeeksforGeeks.
2. Runnable Interface
Any class with instances that are intended to be executed by a thread should implement the Runnable interface. The Runnable interface has only one method, which is called run().
Use Case: It is suitable for cases where you want to separate the task from the thread management. Also, Runnable is a interface so allows us to perform multiple inheritance.
Implementation:
Java
// Implementing Runnable Interface
import java.io.*;
// Class inheriting Runnable interface
class RunnableClass implements Runnable
{
// Override run method
@Override
public void run()
{
System.out.println("Inside run method");
}
}
class Geeks
{
public static void main(String args[])
{
// Create an object of Runnable target
RunnableClass gfg = new RunnableClass();
// Pass the runnable reference to Thread
Thread t = new Thread( gfg , "gfg");
// Start the thread
t.start();
// Get the name of the thread
System.out.println(t.getName());
System.out.println(t.currentThread().getName());
}
}
Outputgfg
main
Inside run method
3. Using Lambda Expressions
Lambda Expressions are very useful for creating the Threads in the cases when the operations to be performed are limited.
Use Case: Used for Threads performing simple tasks.
Implementation:
Java
// Using Lambda Method to Create Thread
import java.io.*;
class Geeks
{
public static void main (String[] args)
{
// Lambda Thread Created
Thread thread1 = new Thread(() -> {
// Operations Performed for thread1
System.out.println("Lambda Thread running");
});
// Running the Thread
thread1.start();
}
}
OutputLambda Thread running
4. Using ExecutorService (for Managing Thread Pools)
The ExecutorService framework provides a higher-level way to manage threads. It allows you to create a pool of threads and manage their execution.
Use Case: Used for concurrent execution of multiple threads.
Implementation:
Java
// Using ExecutorService
import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService;
import java.util.concurrent.Executors;
public class Geeks
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
// Create a thread pool with 2 threads
ExecutorService threads = Executors.newFixedThreadPool(2);
// Submitting Threads as Runnable
threads.submit(() -> {
System.out.println("Task 1 is running in " + Thread.currentThread().getName());
});
threads.submit(() -> {
System.out.println("Task 2 is running in " + Thread.currentThread().getName());
});
// Shutdown the threads/executor
threads.shutdown();
}
}
OutputTask 1 is running in pool-1-thread-1
Task 2 is running in pool-1-thread-2
Similar Reads
Java Tutorial Java is a high-level, object-oriented programming language used to build web apps, mobile applications, and enterprise software systems. It is known for its Write Once, Run Anywhere capability, which means code written in Java can run on any device that supports the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).Java s
10 min read
Java OOP(Object Oriented Programming) Concepts Java Object-Oriented Programming (OOPs) is a fundamental concept in Java that every developer must understand. It allows developers to structure code using classes and objects, making it more modular, reusable, and scalable.The core idea of OOPs is to bind data and the functions that operate on it,
13 min read
Java Interview Questions and Answers Java is one of the most popular programming languages in the world, known for its versatility, portability, and wide range of applications. Java is the most used language in top companies such as Uber, Airbnb, Google, Netflix, Instagram, Spotify, Amazon, and many more because of its features and per
15+ min read
Non-linear Components In electrical circuits, Non-linear Components are electronic devices that need an external power source to operate actively. Non-Linear Components are those that are changed with respect to the voltage and current. Elements that do not follow ohm's law are called Non-linear Components. Non-linear Co
11 min read
Arrays in Java Arrays in Java are one of the most fundamental data structures that allow us to store multiple values of the same type in a single variable. They are useful for storing and managing collections of data. Arrays in Java are objects, which makes them work differently from arrays in C/C++ in terms of me
15+ min read
Collections in Java Any group of individual objects that are represented as a single unit is known as a Java Collection of Objects. In Java, a separate framework named the "Collection Framework" has been defined in JDK 1.2 which holds all the Java Collection Classes and Interface in it. In Java, the Collection interfac
15+ min read
Inheritance in Java Java Inheritance is a fundamental concept in OOP(Object-Oriented Programming). It is the mechanism in Java by which one class is allowed to inherit the features(fields and methods) of another class. In Java, Inheritance means creating new classes based on existing ones. A class that inherits from an
13 min read
Spring Boot Tutorial Spring Boot is a Java framework that makes it easier to create and run Java applications. It simplifies the configuration and setup process, allowing developers to focus more on writing code for their applications. This Spring Boot Tutorial is a comprehensive guide that covers both basic and advance
10 min read
Java Exception Handling Exception handling in Java allows developers to manage runtime errors effectively by using mechanisms like try-catch block, finally block, throwing Exceptions, Custom Exception handling, etc. An Exception is an unwanted or unexpected event that occurs during the execution of a program, i.e., at runt
10 min read
Java Programs - Java Programming Examples In this article, we will learn and prepare for Interviews using Java Programming Examples. From basic Java programs like the Fibonacci series, Prime numbers, Factorial numbers, and Palindrome numbers to advanced Java programs.Java is one of the most popular programming languages today because of its
8 min read