When to Use AtomicBoolean vs Volatile Boolean in Java?

Volatile Boolean versus AtomicBoolean in Java

In Java, ensuring thread-safe access to shared mutable state is crucial for concurrent programming. Understanding the differences between volatile boolean and the AtomicBoolean class can help you make informed choices.

Volatile Boolean

A volatile boolean field ensures that changes to its value are immediately visible to other threads. This means that any reading thread will always see the latest value written by the writing thread. However, it does not provide guarantees about the atomicity of reading and writing operations.

AtomicBoolean

An AtomicBoolean is a wrapper class for a boolean that provides atomic access to its value. It handles the synchronization internally, ensuring that reading and writing operations are always performed atomically. This means that a read or write operation performed by one thread will complete before another thread accesses the value.

When to Use AtomicBoolean

AtomicBoolean should be considered in scenarios where the shared boolean value is:

• Accessed by multiple threads concurrently
• Updated frequently or based on the current value
• Requires atomic read-modify-write operations

Advantages of AtomicBoolean

• Atominicity: Guarantees that reading and writing operations are performed indivisibly.
• Locking-free: Avoids the need for explicit locking, improving performance and reducing contention.
• Convenience: Provides convenient methods like compareAndSet() and getAndSet() for atomic updates.

Example Usage

<code class="java">// Volatile boolean
private volatile boolean running;

// AtomicBoolean
private AtomicBoolean running = new AtomicBoolean(true);</code>

In summary, while volatile boolean can ensure visibility of value changes, it does not guarantee atomic access. For scenarios requiring atomic read-modify-write operations on a boolean value, AtomicBoolean provides a safe and convenient solution.

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