What are the differences between atomic classes and synchronized methods?

What are the differences between atomic classes and synchronized methods?

Atomic classes provide thread-safe operations without locking, while synchronized methods use locks to control access.

Can you give an example of when to use atomic classes?

Use atomic classes when you need to perform simple operations like incrementing a counter without the overhead of synchronization.

What are the performance implications of using synchronized methods?

Synchronized methods can lead to thread contention and reduced performance due to locking, especially in high-concurrency scenarios.

Are there any downsides to using atomic classes?

Yes, atomic classes may not be suitable for complex operations that require multiple steps, as they don't provide compound action guarantees.