Java Synchronization

Java synchronization

Created By: chatGPT

In Java, synchronization is a mechanism that ensures that two or more concurrent threads do not simultaneously execute some particular segment of code. This is crucial when multiple threads access shared resources to prevent data inconsistency. The synchronized keyword is commonly used to enforce synchronization in Java. It can be applied to methods or blocks of code.

public synchronized void synchronizedMethod() {
    // Critical section code here
}

There are two types of synchronization in Java: method-level synchronization and block-level synchronization. Method-level synchronization applies to the entire method, while block-level synchronization allows for more fine-grained control over which part of the method should be synchronized.

public void synchronizedBlock() {
    synchronized (this) {
        // Critical section code here
    }
}

When using synchronization, it's essential to avoid deadlocks. A deadlock occurs when two or more threads are blocked forever, each waiting on the other to release a lock. To prevent this, try to ensure that all threads acquire locks in the same order.

public void deadlockExample() {
    synchronized (lock1) {
        synchronized (lock2) {
            // Potential deadlock situation
        }
    }
}

Using the synchronized keyword can lead to performance issues due to contention. In cases where you expect high concurrency, consider using the java.util.concurrent package, which offers more advanced concurrency utilities like ReentrantLock, Semaphore, or CountDownLatch.

import java.util.concurrent.locks.ReentrantLock;

public class Example {
    private final ReentrantLock lock = new ReentrantLock();
    
    public void lockMethod() {
        lock.lock();
        try {
            // Critical section code here
        } finally {
            lock.unlock();
        }
    }
}