Java ThreadPool Types
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explain types of threadpool with examples
In Java, a ThreadPool is a pool of pre-instantiated reusable threads to perform tasks.
Using a thread pool reduces the overhead of creating new threads every time a task
needs to run, making it more efficient for handling multiple concurrent tasks.
Java provides a built-in thread pool framework in the java.util.concurrent package,
specifically through the Executor and ExecutorService interfaces, and the Executors
utility class.
🔹 Types of Thread Pools in Java (via Executors)
1. FixedThreadPool
A thread pool with a fixed number of threads.
If all threads are busy, new tasks wait in the queue.
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java
ExecutorServiceexecutor= Executors.newFixedThreadPool(3);
for (inti=1; i <= 5; i++) {
inttaskId= i;
executor.submit(() -> {
System.out.println("Executing Task " + taskId + " by " +
Thread.currentThread().getName());
});
}
executor.shutdown();
✅ Use Case: When you know the exact number of threads required and want to limit
concurrency (e.g., database access, I/O-bound tasks).
2. CachedThreadPool
Creates new threads as needed, but will reuse previously constructed threads when
available.
Suitable for short-lived asynchronous tasks.
java
ExecutorServiceexecutor= Executors.newCachedThreadPool();
for (inti=1; i <= 5; i++) {
inttaskId= i;
executor.submit(() -> {
System.out.println("Running Task " + taskId + " by " +
Thread.currentThread().getName());
});
}
executor.shutdown();
✅ Use Case: Best when you have many short-lived tasks and don’t want to limit the
number of threads (e.g., handling many lightweight client requests).
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3. SingleThreadExecutor
Only one thread is used to execute tasks sequentially.
java
ExecutorServiceexecutor= Executors.newSingleThreadExecutor();
for (inti=1; i <= 3; i++) {
inttaskId= i;
executor.submit(() -> {
System.out.println("Running Task " + taskId + " by " +
Thread.currentThread().getName());
});
}
executor.shutdown();
✅ Use Case: When tasks must be executed in a specific order (e.g., logging, file
writing).
4. ScheduledThreadPool
Used for scheduling tasks to run after a delay or periodically.
java
ScheduledExecutorServicescheduler= Executors.newScheduledThreadPool(2);
scheduler.schedule(() -> {
System.out.println("Task executed after 2 seconds delay");
}, 2, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
scheduler.scheduleAtFixedRate(() -> {
System.out.println("Repeating Task every 1 second");
}, 1, 1, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
// Optional shutdown after 5 seconds to stop repeating
scheduler.schedule(() -> scheduler.shutdown(), 5, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
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✅ Use Case: For periodic task execution like cron jobs, cache refresh, or scheduled
reports.
🔸 Custom ThreadPoolExecutor (Advanced)
If you want full control (core size, max size, queue type, rejection policy), you can use
ThreadPoolExecutor directly:
java
ExecutorServicecustomPool=newThreadPoolExecutor(
2, // core pool size4, // max pool size10, // keep-alive time
TimeUnit.SECONDS,
newLinkedBlockingQueue<>(10)
);
Summary Table
Thread Pool Type Key Feature Ideal Use Case
FixedThreadPool Fixed number of threads Limit concurrency, CPU-
bound tasks
CachedThreadPool Unlimited threads, reused Lightweight, short-lived tasks
when idle
SingleThreadExecutor One thread, sequential Ordered task execution
execution
ScheduledThreadPool Delayed or periodic task Timers, scheduled jobs
execution
Would you like me to provide a diagram or visual summary to help reinforce this?
what is this means overhead in os
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In Operating Systems, overhead refers to the extra work or resource usage that the
OS performs to manage system operations, which does not directly contribute to the
actual task or output.
🔹 In Simple Terms:
Overhead is like the cost of managing things.
It’s the processing time, memory, or other resources used just to keep the system
running properly, not to run the actual user task itself.
🔸 Examples of Overhead in OS:
1. Context Switching Overhead
When the CPU switches from one process/thread to another.
It saves the current state and loads another—this takes time and CPU cycles.
🧠 Analogy: Like switching drivers in a car — stopping, changing seat, and
adjusting mirrors take time.
2. Memory Management Overhead
Managing page tables, allocating/freeing memory.
Virtual to physical address translation takes time.
🧠 Keeping track of memory usage uses memory itself!
3. I/O Management Overhead
The OS uses buffers, interrupts, and drivers to manage I/O devices.
All these processes consume CPU cycles and memory.
4. Scheduling Overhead
Selecting which process should run next.
Requires calculations and maintaining priority queues or algorithms.
5. Inter-process Communication (IPC) Overhead
Pipes, shared memory, message queues, etc., all involve setup and
synchronization which is not part of actual computation.
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6. System Calls Overhead
Calling a function in the OS (like read() or write()) involves a mode switch
from user to kernel, which is expensive.
🔹 Why is it important?
Too much overhead = Less efficient system.
The goal of an OS is to minimize overhead so that maximum resources go toward actual
user work, not just management.
Would you like a diagram or visual analogy for how overhead works in an OS?
can you help me to complete the assignment help me complete this: public
class Adder implements Ruunable { private Count count; public
Adder(Count count){ this.count = count; } @Override public void run() {
for(int i = 1 ; i <= 10000 ; ++i){ count.addvalue(i); } } } public class Subtractor
implements Runnable{ private Count count; public Subtractor(Count count){
this.count = count; } @Override public void run(){ } } public class Count { int
value = 0; public void addValue(int i){ this.value += i; } }
Sure, Ankit! Let's complete your assignment step by step. You're working with
multithreading in Java, where two threads — an Adder and a Subtractor — operate on a
shared Count object.
🔧 First, Fix the Typos
In the Adder class, you have a typo:
java
publicclassAdderimplementsRuunable {
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Should be:
java
publicclassAdderimplementsRunnable {
✅ Next, Implement the Subtractor Class
Just like Adder adds values from 1 to 10000, let’s make Subtractor subtract values from
1 to 10000.
✔ Subtractor Implementation:
java
publicclassSubtractorimplementsRunnable {
private Count count;
publicSubtractor(Count count) {
this.count = count;
}
@Overridepublicvoidrun() {
for (inti=1; i <= 10000; ++i) {
count.addValue(-i); // subtracting by adding negative
}
}
}
🧠 Thread Safety Concern
Since both threads will access Count.value simultaneously, it can cause race
conditions. To fix this, we need to make addValue synchronized.
✔ Update Count class:
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java
publicclassCount {
intvalue=0;
publicsynchronizedvoidaddValue(int i) {
this.value += i;
}
publicintgetValue() {
return value;
}
}
🏁 Final Step: Create the Main Class to Run Threads
java
publicclassMain {
publicstaticvoidmain(String[] args)throws InterruptedException {
Countcount=newCount();
ThreadadderThread=newThread(newAdder(count));
ThreadsubtractorThread=newThread(newSubtractor(count));
adderThread.start();
subtractorThread.start();
adderThread.join();
subtractorThread.join();
System.out.println("Final Count Value: " + count.getValue());
}
}
🔍 Expected Output
Since Adder adds numbers from 1 to 10000 and Subtractor subtracts the same range:
Final Count Value = 0
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Would you like me to package this into a single .java file or explain how race conditions
can break this if synchronized is removed?
public class Main { public static void main(String[] args) { Count c = new
Count(); // count is an object of Count class Thread t1 = new Thread (new
Adder(c)).start(); // adder is an object of Adder class Thread t2 = new
Thread (new Subtractor(c)).start(); // subtractor is an object of Subtractor
class t1.start(); t2.start(); t1.join(); t2.join(); System.out.println(c.value); } }
You're very close, Ankit! But there are two main issues in your Main class:
❌ 1. Incorrect Use of Thread.start()
You're doing:
java
Threadt1=newThread(newAdder(c)).start(); // ❌ Wrong
But start() returns void, not a Thread object. So you can't assign it like this.
❌ 2. join() Causes Compile-Time Error
Because t1 and t2 are void, calling t1.join() causes an error.
✅ Fix: Separate Thread Creation and Start
Here's the corrected version:
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java
publicclassMain {
publicstaticvoidmain(String[] args)throws InterruptedException {
Countc=newCount(); // count is an object of Count
classThreadt1=newThread(newAdder(c)); // create thread for
AdderThreadt2=newThread(newSubtractor(c)); // create thread for Subtractor
t1.start(); // start threads
t2.start();
t1.join(); // wait for threads to finish
t2.join();
System.out.println("Final value: " + c.getValue());
}
}
🧠 Final Note: Accessing c.value directly is not a good practice
It's better to use a getter method, like getValue(), which we already added in the
previous message:
java
publicintgetValue() {
return value;
}
Would you like the complete working version of all classes in one file?
what are the reason for data synchronization
10/16
Great question, Ankit!
🔐 Reason for Data Synchronization in Multithreading
Data Synchronization ensures that multiple threads can safely access shared data
without conflicts or corruption. In multithreaded programs, race conditions and
inconsistent data can occur if threads read/write to shared memory simultaneously
without control.
✅ Why Synchronization Is Needed:
1. Prevent Race Conditions
When two or more threads try to modify the same data at the same time, the final
result can be unpredictable.
🔍 Example: Two threads incrementing a shared counter might both read the same
value before either writes back, causing a missed increment.
2. Ensure Atomicity
Synchronization ensures that a critical section (code that accesses shared
resources) runs completely or not at all, without interference from other threads.
3. Maintain Data Consistency
Without synchronization, one thread may see partially updated or old values,
breaking logic and causing bugs.
4. Thread Coordination
Helps threads wait, notify, or coordinate (e.g., using wait(), notify(), join()) to
ensure one thread finishes before another starts.
5. Avoid Deadlocks and Starvation (when used wisely)
Synchronization allows proper management of locks to avoid deadlocks and ensure
all threads get fair access.
🔁 Real-World Analogy:
Imagine two people editing the same Google Doc without real-time sync:
Person A deletes a line.
Person B updates the same line at the same time.
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Who wins? The document becomes inconsistent.
That's what happens to shared variables without synchronization.
🧵 Java Tools for Synchronization
synchronized keyword (method/block)
ReentrantLock, ReadWriteLock
AtomicInteger, AtomicBoolean (for atomic operations)
volatile (for visibility, not atomicity)
Concurrent Collections like ConcurrentHashMap
Would you like an example showing a race condition with and without synchronization in
Java?
what is critical section
🔐 What is a Critical Section?
A Critical Section is a part of the program (usually a block of code) where a shared
resource (like a variable, file, or database) is accessed or modified by multiple threads
or processes.
Since only one thread should access this part at a time to avoid data inconsistency or
corruption, it's a key concept in multithreading and synchronization.
🧠 In Simple Words:
A critical section is the sensitive part of the code where "only one thread at a
time" should be allowed to go in, to prevent race conditions.
🔸 Example in Java:
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java
publicclassCount {
privateintvalue=0;
// This is a critical sectionpublicsynchronizedvoidaddValue(int i) {
value += i;
}
publicintgetValue() {
return value;
}
}
Here, addValue() is a critical section because:
It modifies a shared variable value.
It's marked synchronized so only one thread can execute it at a time.
⚠️ Why Is It Important?
Without synchronization: multiple threads can access the critical section at once,
causing race conditions and incorrect results.
With synchronization: only one thread enters the critical section, ensuring data
safety and correct behavior.
🏠 Analogy:
Imagine a bathroom with one key:
Only one person can enter at a time (synchronized access).
If two people enter together (unsynchronized), things go wrong — just like threads
corrupting shared data.
Would you like a Java demo showing the effect of not protecting a critical section?
can you explain no busy waiting concept as solution of synchronization
13/16
Absolutely, Ankit!
🔄 What is Busy Waiting?
Busy Waiting means a thread keeps checking (in a loop) whether a condition is true,
without doing any useful work while waiting.
java
while (!condition) {
// keep checking again and again
}
🧠 It's like constantly knocking on a door to see if it's open, wasting time and CPU.
❌ Why Busy Waiting is Bad:
Wastes CPU cycles
Inefficient: Thread consumes power and processing time while doing nothing
useful
Can slow down the whole system, especially with many threads
✅ No Busy Waiting: The Smarter Alternative
Instead of constantly checking, we can let a thread sleep until it's notified — this is
non-busy waiting.
In Java, we use:
wait() → makes a thread pause and release lock until another thread calls
notify()
notify() / notifyAll() → wakes up waiting threads
🔸 Example Using wait() and notify() (No Busy Waiting):
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java
classSharedResource {
privatebooleanavailable=false;
publicsynchronizedvoidproduce()throws InterruptedException {
while (available) {
wait(); // wait if already available
}
System.out.println("Produced item");
available = true;
notify(); // notify the consumer
}
publicsynchronizedvoidconsume()throws InterruptedException {
while (!available) {
wait(); // wait if item not available
}
System.out.println("Consumed item");
available = false;
notify(); // notify the producer
}
}
Here:
Threads sleep when needed, instead of wasting CPU by checking repeatedly.
This is non-busy waiting — smart, efficient, and elegant.
✅ Key Benefits of No Busy Waiting:
Busy Waiting No Busy Waiting
Wastes CPU cycles Saves CPU time
Poor performance Efficient thread handling
Repetitive polling Sleep + notification
Inefficient for real-time systems Ideal for responsive systems
🔄 Summary
No Busy Waiting = Wait + Notify = Sleep Until Needed
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It’s a fundamental concept in building efficient multithreaded programs.
Would you like me to help you write a full working Java program that demonstrates this
concept?
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