What is the difference between synchronization and concurrency in Java?

What is the difference between synchronization and concurrency in Java?

Synchronization in Java is a mechanism to control access to shared resources, ensuring that only one thread can access a resource at a time. Concurrency, on the other hand, refers to the ability of the system to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, which may or may not involve synchronization.

Can you give me an example of synchronization in Java?

Sure! In Java, you can use the synchronized keyword to create a synchronized method or block. For example:

public synchronized void increment() {
    this.count++;
}
``` This ensures that only one thread can execute the `increment` method at a time.

What are some common concurrency issues in Java?

Common concurrency issues include race conditions, deadlocks, and thread starvation. Race conditions occur when multiple threads access shared data simultaneously, leading to inconsistent results. Deadlocks happen when two or more threads are waiting for each other to release resources, causing them to be stuck.

How can I avoid deadlocks in my Java application?

To avoid deadlocks, you can follow best practices like acquiring locks in a consistent order, using a timeout when trying to acquire locks, and avoiding nested locks whenever possible.