Unit-VI Multithreading

Contents:-

The Java Thread Model



The Thread class and the Runnable Interface



 Creating a thread, Creating Multiple Threads

Thread Priorities


 Synchronization

Inter-thread Communication


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 Multithreading means a single program having different threads executing independently
at the same time.

 A thread represents an individual path of execution. By such division we can save the
wastage of CPU time in a process.

 It is the smallest unit of processing. It is a separate path of execution. It shares the

memory area of process.

 In multithreaded programming process is divided into different threads.

 Multithreading is a type of multitasking.

 Multitasking: Multitasking is a process of executing multiple tasks simultaneously. We use

multitasking to utilize the CPU. Multitasking can be achieved by two ways:


 Process Based
 Thread Based

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 Process Based

 Thread Based:

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Process Based Multitasking (Multithreading):

Each process have its own address in memory i.e. each process allocates separate memory
area.
Process is heavyweight.

Cost of communication between the process is high.

Switching from one process to another require some time for saving and loading registers,

memory maps, updating lists etc.

Interprocess communication is heavy in terms of time and memory.

Thread-based Multitasking (Multithreading):

Threads share the same address space.

Thread is lightweight.

Cost of communication between the thread is low.

Note: At least one process is required for each thread

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Difference between Process & Thread:
Process is Smallest Unit Thread is Smallest Unit

Single Threaded system Multithreaded System

Thread is in finite loop, if it

suspends wastage of CPU Thread is not in loop, no wastage
of CPU

Each process has a complete set of

its own variables Threads may share the same data.

It takes more overhead to launch It takes much less overhead to

new processes. create & destroy threads

Inter-process communication is Inter-process communication is

heavy in terms of time & memory light in terms of time & memory 5
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 Thread is a power that takes the CPU time to perform the delegated work.

 If working Thread suspends any other Thread will take on CPU time and starts working.
Hence, no wastage of CPU time.

Two characteristics of main( ) thread:

 All child threads are generated in main() thread.

 If main( ) thread terminates, all child threads are terminated.

 Priority of main() thread is 5.

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 Demonstrating main( ) thread:

Code-1:

 Daemon thread is a low priority thread which runs intermittently in the background
doing the garbage collection operation for the java runtime system.

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 The Runnable interface holds run( ) method which holds logic of thread. We can write a
class implementing Runnable interface and overriding run( ) method.

 Creating child thread means creating object of ‘Thread’ class, for this purpose Java
provides following two constructor.
Thread(Runnable Obj)
Thread(Runnable Obj, String ThreadName)

 Above constructor accepts object of a class implementing Runnable interface.

 After creating thread we need to start it so that it should begin the execution of its run( )
method. For this purpose Java provides following two method of ‘Thread’ class.
void start( );
t.start( );

 Code-2:

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 Note: Control of the program cannot be passed to the Thread because Thread works
randomly and concurrently.

 Code-3:

Creating Multiple Child Thread:

 Code-4:

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Extending Thread: When any class extends Thread class the object of that class becomes child
Thread.
Code-5:

Runnable(Interface) VS Thread(Class):
It is a little confusing why there are two ways of doing the same thing in the threading API.

It is important to understand the implication of using these two different approaches. By

extending the thread class, the derived class itself is a thread object and it gains full control
over the thread life cycle.
Implementing the Runnable interface does not give developers any control over the thread

itself, as it simply defines the unit of work that will be executed by a thread.
Another important point is that when extending the Thread class, the derived class cannot

extend any other base classes because Java only allows single inheritance.
By implementing the Runnable interface, the class can still extend other base classes if

necessary.
To summarize, if the program needs a full control over the thread life cycle, extending the

Thread class is a good choice, and if the program needs more flexibility of extending other
base classes, implementing the Runnable interface would be preferable. If none of these is
present, either of them is fine to use.

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Implements Runnable Extending Thread

More Use Less Use
Used for multiple Does not support multiple
inheritance inheritance.

 Class Myclass extends Applet implements Runnable – OK

 Class Myclass extends Applet, Thread - will not work

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Life Cycle of Thread:

born

start

ready
dispatch
quantum (assign a
processor)
expiration
running

waiting sleeping suspended blocked

Sleep intervals
resume
expires
stop complete

dead 12

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Life Cycle of Thread:

1.New: When Thread is created using new operator, it is in born state not in running state.
When thread is in born state no code inside it is being executed.

2.Runnable: (Ready to run) Once the start( ) method is invoked the thread is in ready to run
state. It may not be yet running .It is up to the operating system to schedule the thread
execution. If it gets the CPU time and we start thread it comes in Runnable state.

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Life Cycle of Thread:

3.RunningState:Once the thread goes to running state or starts execution, it acquires CPU time
and memory and it executes its logic.

4.BlockedState:When the thread is in running state and is suspended due to any reason, it is in
blocked state. After the end of the block state, thread comes in Runnable state.

The thread enters blocked state when one of the following event occurs:
Someone calls sleep( ) method of Thread class.

Someone calls suspend( ) method of thread class

The thread calls wait( ) method

The Thread is moved back to Runnable state from blocked state when one of the following
occurs:
If the thread is put to sleep( ), the specified sleep time elapsed

If the thread is suspended, another thread calls its resume( ) method

If the thread is blocked by calling an wait( ), then can be resumed by calling notify( ), notify

All( ).
 If the thread is blocked on I/O, the specified I/O operation completes.

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Life Cycle of Thread:

5.Dead: After completion of its logic thread goes in dead state. A thread is dead for one of the
following reasons:
It dies a natural death because the run( ) method exits.

It is killed because someone invoked its stop( ) method.

To find whether the thread is alive, we have isAlive( ) of thread class.

 Code-7:

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Thread Priority:

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Thread Priority:

Thread priority defines following two things-

If multiple threads of a process are working concurrently and running thread of a process is suspended
or terminated or blocked, then which thread among runnable state threads will take on CPU time? (The
thread with highest priority has more chances.)

If multiple threads of a process are working concurrently for specified time period then which thread
will take on how much CPU time? (The thread with higher priorities will utilize most of the CPU
Time).

 Range of ThreadPriority :--1 to 10

To specify thread priority, java provides following 3 static & final integer variables of ‘Thread’
class:--
Thread.MIN_PRIORITY Value=1
Thread.NORM_PRIORITY Value=5
Thread.MAX_PRIORITY Value=10

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Thread Priority:

To set & get thread priorities, java provides following methods of ‘Thread’ Class:--

 setPriority():-- final void setPriority( int p)

 getPriority() :-- final int getPriority()

Code-8:

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Synchronization:

With respect to multithreading, synchronization is the capability to control the access of multiple
threads to shared same resources. Without synchronization, it is possible for one thread to modify
a shared object while another thread is in the process of using or updating that object's value.
This often leads to significant errors.

When a common resource in memory is being utilize by multiple clients concurrently, some
logical problem may raise in system due to concurrency. Such system is known as Asynchronous
System.

In multithreading code also when an object in memory is accessed by multiple threads
concurrently partially or fully, system may become asynchronous. But every object in memory in
Java is covered by monitor or Semaphore. By default this monitor is deactivated. When we
activate this monitor, no two threads can access that object or part of object concurrently but
they can access it one by one. This automatically synchronizes system.

 No two threads can access same object concurrently in memory at same point of time.

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Synchronization:

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Synchronization:

 Code-9: 23
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Inter -thread Communication:

 Interthread Communication: It is used to govern the sequence of thread

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Inter -thread Communication:

T2 thread cannot access write() method because it is under monitor( read() and write() is
synchronized)
T3 can access meth () method because it is not synchronized

How much time CPU will take to complete a task is not determined by multithreading

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Inter-thread Communication:

Monitor is used to lock the resources. Without synchronization we can not get the effect of
Interthread communication.

Though thread represents an individual path of execution, many times threads hold some logic
which effect each-other. Many times this dependency may lead to some unexpected results of
program. This can be avoided by establishing communication among threads.

 sleep() method of Thread class suspends the thread but does not leave the monitor.

wait() method of object class suspends the thread(T1) and leaves the monitor and remains
suspended till (T2)thread will not call notifyAll() method.

Java provides following methods of ‘Object’ class for communication:

 wait():-- final void wait() throws InterruptedException

The thread in whose body we call this method is blocked & that thread leaves current
monitor. It remains blocked till any other thread entering same monitor doesn’t notify it.
Suspends the current thread till other thread will not call notify() method.
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Java provides following methods of ‘Object’ class for communication:

 notify():-- final void notify()throws InterruptedException

This method ends the blocked state of waiting thread & thread comes in runnable state.
Wakes up the first thread that called wait() method on same object

 notifyAll():--final void notifyAll()throws InterruptedException

Wakes up the all thread that called wait() method on same object. The highest priority
thread will run first.

 T2 thread will call notify() method then thread T1 will again starts executing its logic.
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Interthread communication:

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Interthread communication:

wait() sleep()

 The wait() method is defined in  The sleep() method is defined in Thread

Object class. class.

 wait() method releases the lock.  The sleep() method doesn't releases the
lock.

Code-10:

Code-11:

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