Java Coding Problems

211. Semaphores

A semaphore is a Java synchronizer that allows us to control the number of threads that can access a resource at any one time. Conceptually, this synchronizer manages a bunch of permits (for example, similar to tokens). A thread that needs access to the resource must acquire a permit from the synchronizer. After the thread finishes its job with the resource, it must release the permit by returning it to the semaphore so that another thread can acquire it. A thread can acquire a permit immediately (if a permit is free), can wait for a certain amount of time, or can wait until a permit becomes free. Moreover, a thread can acquire and release more than one permit at a time, and a thread can release a permit even if it did not ...