What are Java deadlocks and how can I prevent them?

What are Java deadlocks and how can I prevent them?

Java deadlocks occur when two or more threads are blocked forever, each waiting on the other. To prevent them, you can use techniques like avoiding nested locks, using a timeout when trying to acquire locks, or employing a lock hierarchy.

Can you give me an example of a deadlock situation?

Sure! Imagine two threads: Thread A holds Lock 1 and needs Lock 2 to proceed, while Thread B holds Lock 2 and needs Lock 1. They are now in a deadlock.

How can I detect a deadlock in my Java application?

You can use tools like Java VisualVM or JConsole to monitor thread states. If you see threads stuck in a waiting state, you might have a deadlock.

What are some best practices to avoid deadlocks?

Some best practices include always acquiring locks in a consistent order, using tryLock() with timeouts, and minimizing the scope of synchronized blocks.