What are some examples of using volatile in Java synchronization?

Can you explain how the volatile keyword works in Java?

Sure! The volatile keyword in Java is used to indicate that a variable's value will be modified by different threads. It ensures that changes made by one thread are visible to others.

Can you give me some examples of when to use volatile?

Absolutely! A common use case is in a flag variable that indicates whether a thread should keep running or stop. Using volatile ensures that the latest value is always read by all threads.

What happens if I don't use volatile in a multi-threaded environment?

If you don't use volatile, threads may cache the variable's value, leading to inconsistent or stale data being read, which can cause unexpected behavior.

Are there any performance implications of using volatile?

Yes, using volatile can have performance implications. It can lead to slower performance compared to regular variables due to the memory visibility guarantees it provides, which can prevent certain optimizations.