Object-Oriented Programming (CS F213)

Module VI: Multithreading in Java

CS F213 RL 14.2: Thread Basics in Java

BITS Pilani Dr. Pankaj Vyas

Department of Computer Science, BITS-Pilani, Pilani Campus
 CS F213 RL 14.2 : Topics

Threads in Java

2 Object-Oriented Programming (CS F213)

 Threads in Java (Basics)

Java Supports Multithreaded based Multitasking

Java Virtual Machine (JVM) Executes Each Thread for
Short Period of Time (Known as Time Slice)
Thread Scheduler Activates, Deactivates Threads
Each Thread is Assigned a Priority Number in Range 1
(MIN_PRIORITY) to 10 (MAX_PRIORITY)
If No Priority is Assigned to a Particular Thread Then it is
Assigned Priority Number as 5 (NORM_PRIORITY)
Thread Priorities are used by the Thread Scheduler to
Decide when Each Thread Should be Allowed to Run.
Higher Priority Threads gets more CPU Time than the
Lower Priority Threads

3 Object-Oriented Programming (CS F213)

 Thread States

When BLOCKED
Thread is Last State
waiting to
Created

an object
lock over

granted
over an
acquire

object
of Thread

lock
Threads run()
Thread Starts Method Exits
NEW RUNNABLE TERMINATED

TIMED_WAIT WAITING

4 Object-Oriented Programming (CS F213)

 Thread Scheduling

Thread Scheduler Activates a new Thread if

A Thread has Completed its Allotted Time Slice

A Thread has Blocked itself
A Thread with Higher Priority has become Runnable

Scheduler Determines new Thread to Run

Looks only at Runnable Threads

Picks the Thread with Maximum Priority

5 Object-Oriented Programming (CS F213)

 run() Method of a Thread

Every Thread Performs a Well Defined Task During its

Allotted Time Slice
Task of a Thread is Described by the instructions in its
run() Method
A Thread is Alive as long as its run() method Executes
When run() method of a Thread Exits, the Thread
reaches its Final State (Terminated)
Life Time of a Thread = Execution Time of Threads
run() Method

6 Object-Oriented Programming (CS F213)

 The Main Thread

During the beginning of execution any program, Java

Creates a Special Thread known as Main Thread
It is the Main Thread from which other child threads are
created and spawned
Often it must be the last [But not Necessary and Neither
Compulsory] to finish Execution
Main Thread Performs various Shutdown Actions [Thats
why it is recommended that Main Thread Should Finish
Execution in the Last]
Reference to the currently running thread can be obtained
by using method static Thread currentThread() of Thread
class.

7 Object-Oriented Programming (CS F213)

 Thank You

8 Object-Oriented Programming (CS F213)