InfosysJavaMedium
Explain the concept of multithreading in Java
JavaMultithreadingConcurrencyThreads
Question
What is multithreading in Java? Explain thread lifecycle and synchronization.
Interview Answer
Multithreading enables concurrent task execution in a single process. In Java, you manage thread lifecycle, shared state safety, and coordination using synchronization primitives and concurrent utilities.
Explanation
Threads improve throughput and responsiveness, especially with I/O-heavy workflows. But shared mutable state introduces race conditions, deadlocks, and visibility issues unless synchronization or lock-free concurrent tools are used correctly.
Key Points
- Thread lifecycle states define execution progression
- Synchronization protects shared mutable state
- Concurrency utilities simplify thread-safe design
- Correctness is more important than raw parallelism
Common Mistakes
- Using synchronized everywhere without contention strategy
- Ignoring deadlock scenarios with nested locks
- Sharing mutable objects across threads without protection
Likely Follow-Up Questions
- Difference between synchronized and ReentrantLock?
- What is volatile and when should it be used?
- How do thread pools improve performance and control?
Interview Timing
Target speaking time: about 5 minutes.