What are the differences between atomic variables and synchronized blocks in Java?

What are the differences between atomic variables and synchronized blocks in Java?

Atomic variables provide a way to perform thread-safe operations without using locks, while synchronized blocks use locks to control access to a block of code.

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

Sure! Use atomic variables when you need to update a counter or a flag in a multi-threaded environment without the overhead of locking.

What are the performance implications of using synchronized blocks?

Synchronized blocks can lead to thread contention, which may decrease performance due to the overhead of acquiring and releasing locks.

Are there any scenarios where synchronized blocks are preferred over atomic variables?

Yes, synchronized blocks are preferred when you need to perform multiple operations atomically, as atomic variables only support single operations.