Java All-in-One For Dummies, 6th Edition

Chapter 1

Programming Threads

IN THIS CHAPTER

Examining threads

Creating threads from the Thread class

Working with the Runnable interface

Creating threads that cooperate

Executing threads

Making methods cooperate

Using a lock

Interrupting threads

Have you ever seen a plate-spinning act, in which a performer spins plates or bowls on top of poles, keeping multiple plates spinning at the same time, running from pole to pole to give each plate a little nudge — just enough to keep it going? The world record is 108 plates kept simultaneously spinning.

In Java, threads are the equivalent of plate spinning. Threads let you divide the work of an application into separate pieces, all of which ...