How to Achieve Inter-Thread Synchronization in Java Without Blocking?

Achieving Inter-Thread Synchronization in Java

In a Java multithreaded application, coordinating the execution of multiple threads is crucial. When one thread requires the output of another before proceeding, a synchronization mechanism becomes necessary. Let's explore a real-world scenario and its optimal solution.

In a Java application, an application logic thread and a database access thread coexist. Both threads operate concurrently throughout the app's lifespan, exchanging communication between the user and the server. However, on startup, the application thread must pause until the database thread becomes ready for operation.

Traditionally, Thread.join() seems like a viable option; however, it's unsuitable here because the database thread persists until the application shuts down. Employing an empty while loop as a placeholder is undesirable due to excessive processor utilization.

An elegant solution emerges with the CountDownLatch class. With a counter of 1, the latch creates a barrier for the application thread. In the application thread, latch.await() halts execution until the latch allows it to proceed. Simultaneously, in the database thread, latch.countDown() decrements the counter to zero, releasing the application thread from its wait state.

This mechanism provides efficient inter-thread synchronization without blocking or incurring unnecessary processor overhead.

The above is the detailed content of How to Achieve Inter-Thread Synchronization in Java Without Blocking?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!